AMBULANCE bosses in the West Midlands are appealing for the public to use its services wisely and treat staff with respect during the European Championships.
Planning for the tournament has been on-going for some time using experience gained during the World Cup and the previous Euros, which will see a significant number of additional staff on duty.
Additional paramedics will be coming on shift on the day of England matches and throughout the tournament to deal with the usual call-outs and the extra generated by people watching the games.
WMAS Director of Performance and Improvement, Nathan Hudson, said: “We know that demand during the actual match will be relatively light, but we usually see a significant spike in demand as soon as the game is over, whatever the result.
“While we will see more ambulances on the streets of the West Midlands, it is important that people use the NHS wisely and make use of 111, pharmacies and their GP and not just rely on 999 and A&E.
“Unfortunately, we do see a rise in cases of domestic abuse during big championships such as this so I would like to remind people that there is help available to anyone who feels they are at risk.
“We know emotions can run high at times but it is important people remember that it isn’t acceptable to take anger out on staff. We take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and will work together with the police to secure prosecutions wherever possible.”
For more information see gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help.
