Ambulance service faces busiest year ever as 999 calls surge across Bedfordshire

The service responded to more than 84,000 emergency incidents during the month across Bedfordshire and the wider East of England.

The number of 999 calls has increased from around 87,000 in September 2024 and 90,000 in September 2025.

Ambulance crews also attended significantly more incidents, with the monthly total rising from around 73,000 in 2024 to 80,000 last year and more than 84,000 in September 2026.

The services teams were also affected by delays transferring patients into hospital care, with crews spending more than 18,000 hours waiting to hand over patients last month.

These delays can prevent ambulances from returning to the community to respond to further emergencies, potentially increasing waiting times for people who need an ambulance.

Darren Meads, chief operating officer at EEAST, said: “Every call to our service is a person in need of help. We know that some people have suffered a fall or are having chest pain or breathing difficulties.

“We know that behind every patient there are families facing an anxious wait for support during one of the most difficult moments of their lives.”

He said: “Our ambulance crews and emergency operations centre teams work incredibly hard every day to provide the best possible care for patients, often in very challenging circumstances.

“We are working closely with our healthcare partners across the region because patients need the whole system to work together.”

He added: “By improving patient flow through hospitals and supporting people to receive care in the right place, we can help ambulances get back on the road more quickly and respond to the next patient in need.”

And he said: “Winter is always one of the busiest times of year for ambulance services, and the demand we experienced during September shows how important it is that we prepare early.

“As we move into winter, our focus remains on providing safe, high-quality care and getting help to patients as quickly as possible."

EEAST is working with hospitals, Integrated Care Boards and community services to improve patient flow and reduce delays.

People are also being encouraged to use the appropriate NHS service for their needs to help keep emergency ambulances available for those who need them most. If you need urgent medical help but it is not a life-threatening emergency, use NHS 111 online or by phone.