Tonight one of busiest of the year for 999 crews.
The ambulance service responsible for Milton Keynes has issued a plea to residents to keep 999 lines free for life-threatening or serious emergencies tonight.
The Friday before Christmas is traditionally one of the busiest nights of the year and South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is bracing itself for a busy night ahead.
The appeal comes as latest figures show that on 8th December, SCAS took 1,987 calls – the highest daily total in 2025 so far.
And with the Friday before Christmas the point when friends, family and colleagues begin celebrating together, SCAS is asking people to follow three simple steps to help reduce the strain on emergency services and keep 999 free for people who need it.
They are:
- Celebrate sensibly – know your limits with alcohol, eat something before going out and pace yourself. Over-indulgence can lead to injuries and illnesses that put extra pressure on ambulance crews and A&E departments
- Know when to call 999 – only call for a serious or life-threatening emergency, such as difficulty breathing, chest pain or severe injury
- Use 111 – call or go online at 111.nhs.uk for urgent but not emergency health concerns. You will receive a call back from a healthcare professional or be directed to the most appropriate local NHS service for you
“Winter is usually the busiest time of the year for the NHS as the cold and wet weather sees a rise in respiratory illnesses and winter bugs, as well as an increase in slips, trips, falls and road traffic collisions,” said Kirsten Willis-Drewett, assistant director of operations for Thames Valley.
“By looking out for each other on your night out, planning how you’ll get home safely and getting help early if someone in the group starts to feel unwell, you can protect your friends, yourself and help us focus on those who most urgently need us this Christmas and New Year.”
