THE NI Ambulance Service has warned that even the most urgent ambulance calls could face a delayed response time.
It said this was because of staff absences as a result of Covid-19 and also a delayed turnaround time at hospital emergency departments.
The North of Ireland has posted record case numbers in recent days with the spread of the Omicron variant.
Some health trusts have also warned of disruption.
In its statement on Thursday evening, the ambulance service said: “We are experiencing unprecedented pressure due to the number of staff unable to attend work as a result of Covid-19 and our ability to respond due to pressures at Emergency Departments resulting in delayed turnaround ties for ambulances.
“NIAS always prioritises calls to ensure that the most clinically uNIrgent calls receive the fastest response with delays for those whose clinical needs are less urgent.
“However, the situation currently is that even the most urgent calls may now face delays.
“We would take this opportunity to apologise to patients and carers who may endure lengthy delays while we strive to provide as good a service as we can in the circumstances prevailing across the HSC system.
“NIAS would ask anyone who can make their way to EDs to do so, instead of calling 999 in the first instance.
“However, in the life-threatening situations, 999 should be used immediately.”
A number of trusts across the North have made appeals related to the pressures they were experiencing.
Visiting is currently suspended at the Western Trust’s hospitals and facilities and is to be reviewed today, Friday, December 31.
Announcing the move, the trust said this was because of “continued pressures on our hospitals/care facilities and high levels of Covid-19 transmission”.
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