NHS paramedic says ‘don’t need to call 999’ with these symptoms | Personal Finance | Finance
People are being urged not to dial 999 simply because they are experiencing flu-like symptoms. The warning follows NHS England’s earlier alert this month that A&E departments and ambulance services are grappling with unprecedented demand as winter approaches.
Officials revealed that A&E visits and ambulance call-outs hit record levels in October, with emergency department attendances soaring to 37,000 – surpassing the previous year’s figures. Simultaneously, ambulance incidents surged by almost 50,000 compared to the same period last year.
Given this escalating pressure, the public is being asked not to ring 999 for non-critical situations, including minor ailments like common colds. Nevertheless, the NHS continues to encourage people to use emergency services when genuinely needed, assuring that primary and urgent care will remain accessible for those requiring treatment.
In an NHS video shared on X, Eyram, a paramedic with the London Ambulance Service, explained: “Got the flu? You might be feeling miserable, but you probably don’t need to call 999. Symptoms can come on very quickly and include feeling tired and exhausted, feeling achy and having a high temperature, a dry cough or sore throat, a headache, difficulty sleeping, a loss of appetite, diarrhoea or tummy pains.”
Eyram continued: “If you have the flu, there’s some things you can do to get better quickly. Rest and sleep. Keep warm. Take regular paracetamol and ibuprofen to reduce aches and pains.
“Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. You can also use NHS 111 for medical advice or call 999 if you start to develop chest pains, breathing difficulties or start to cough up blood.”
Common flu symptoms and when to call 999
- Tiredness or exhaustion
- Loss of appetite
- Aches throughout the body
- A sudden high temperature
- A sore throat
- Difficulty sleeping
- Feeling sick and being sick
- A dry cough
- Diarrhoea or tummy pain
- A headache
If you are at a higher risk of serious illnesses, such as being 65 or over, pregnant, or have a long-term health condition, the NHS advises booking an urgent GP appointment or dial 111 for further advice. Furthermore, you may need to call 999 or go to A&E if you suffer one of the following symptoms while suffering from the flu:
- Coughing up a lot of blood
- Sudden chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
If you are experiencing these symptoms and you decide to go to A&E, it is advised not to drive there yourself. Instead, you should either ask someone to drive you there or call 999 and request an ambulance.
Further guidance on dealing with a flu infection can be found on the NHS website here.
