NHS plunged into winter crisis with heart attack patients advised to make own way to hospital after dialling 999

HEART attack patients in some parts of the country are being advised to make their own way to hospital after dialling 999.

A script used by emergency call handlers has been changed to suggest people get themselves to A&E during periods of high demand.

A leaked West Midlands Ambulance Service memo said category three and four patients — with severe abdominal pain or who have fallen or are vomiting — will now be told: “The ambulance service is under significant pressure, and we don’t have an ambulance available to respond to you.

“It may be a number of hours before one is available.

“Is there any way you can arrange to safely make your own way to a hospital emergency department?”

The document, sent on November 29 and seen by The Sunday Times, said that when the service is under the highest levels of pressure, category two patients — including major burns victims, and those who may be suffering a stroke or heart attack — will be asked to do the same.

All ambulance services have adjusted their scripts to deal with periods of high demand — as sickness levels plunge the NHS into a winter crisis.

And it is thought others may be using the same strategy as the West Midlands.

NHS England’s chief executive Amanda Pritchard has described the winter situation as “concerning”.

She said: “We are heading into winter with a 350 per cent increase in flu cases in hospitals, and an 86 per cent rise in norovirus compared to the same month last year.

“And an average of over 95,000 hospital beds are occupied each day — more at this point than in any other year.”

Coroners have sent 33 warnings to ambulance trusts in 2024 after deaths were found to be linked to delays in emergency responses.