Ambulance service issues ‘Mad Friday’ warning and appeals for responsible use amid winter pressures

Yorkshire Ambulance Service is calling on members of the public to use its services responsibly as the festive season approaches and the service faces its busiest time of the year.  

With ‘Mad Friday’ - the last Friday before Christmas - on the horizon, the Trust warns of a significant spike in calls, and is urging everyone to take extra care and look after themselves and others during celebrations. 

The service is already experiencing a surge in demand across its 999 and NHS 111 services, with around 73,000 ‘999’ calls anticipated between mid-December and 4 January. This could reach an average of 150 calls every hour on the busiest festive days, placing immense pressure on resources. 

Marc Thomas, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer at Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “We are already seeing system-wide increases in demand, largely due to winter-related illnesses like flu and respiratory problems. This will undoubtedly rise further over the next few weeks.” 

The service has robust plans in place, but the public must play a crucial role in ensuring ambulances are available for people who are seriously ill or injured or whose lives are at risk.  

It is vital to know when to call 999 and when to consider other NHS services. If someone is experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, severe bleeding, severe burns or major trauma, call 999 immediately. For less serious illnesses and injuries, please use your pharmacy, GP, urgent treatment centre or NHS 111 online (111.nhs.uk), where you’ll receive the same advice as calling 111 directly. 

On busy nights like Mad Friday, the need for responsible behaviour is even greater. Please look after friends, avoid excessive drinking, and be mindful of your safety to reduce the risk of accidents or injuries that require emergency assistance.  

Marc Thomas added: “By making wise choices and taking extra care during the festive period, especially on exceptionally busy nights like Mad Friday, you can help keep ambulances available for those whose lives truly depend on it.  

“In addition, please ensure that our staff are treated with the respect that they deserve. They are here to help people when they are most in need and, very sadly, they face the possibility of violence, assault and aggression every time they are on duty which is completely unacceptable. Thank you for your support and understanding this winter.”  

Remember, calling 999 does not always mean an ambulance will be sent. Calls are categorised to ensure the most appropriate response, and many patients are now supported by clinicians over the phone, which helps keep ambulances available for life-threatening emergencies and relieves pressure on hospital emergency departments. 

If you are waiting for an ambulance, do not call 999 back for an estimated time of arrival unless the patient’s condition worsens or you no longer need assistance. Your cooperation helps ensure that Yorkshire Ambulance Service can respond swiftly to those in urgent need. 

ENDS 

Notes to Editor:  

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust covers almost 6,000 square miles of varied terrain from isolated moors and dales to urban areas, coastline and inner cities and provides 24-hour emergency and urgent healthcare services to a population of more than five million people. The Trust employs just over 7,000 staff and has support from nearly 1,000 volunteers. 

In 2024-25, our Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) staff received 1,233,697 emergency and routine calls, an average of 3,381 calls a day. We responded to a total of 908,378 emergency incidents through either a vehicle arriving on scene or by telephone advice.   

Our Patient Transport Service made over 978,000 journeys transporting eligible patients to and from hospital and treatment centre appointments, and the Trust’s NHS 111 service helped around 1.69 million patients across Yorkshire and the Humber, Bassetlaw, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.