NORTH West Ambulance Service is urging people to avoid unnecessary calls after one patient called for help because they 'had the runs'.

The organisation said an unexpected surge in 999 presented it with a huge challenge to cope with demand last Monday.

The service recorded a 22 per cent rise in calls and a 24 per cent rise in life-threatening 'red' calls in comparison to the same day last year.

This meant some patients had to either wait longer than they should have done for a response or those with minor conditions told an ambulance could not be sent.

Ged Blezard, assistant director of operations for NWAS, said: "We are better resourced than ever before.

"Last year we increased our frontline staff by 3.5 Per cent and our call handling staff by 6.1 per cent.

"Even so, the rise in 999 calls is a challenge for us and when we have unexpectedly busy days, it is patients who suffer.

"I have worked in the ambulance service for 30 years, starting out on the frontline myself and I cannot understand why people call us for minor ailments which can be easily dealt with by either visiting a pharmacy, a GP or attending a walk in or minor injuries unit.

"The ambulance service is not a taxi or mobile first aid service.

"We are here for life-threatening or potentially life-threatening emergencies and those who call us for minor complaints will be advised to use the right service."

NWAS answered 3,827 ‘999’ calls on Monday and whilst most genuinely needed an ambulance there were some that did not warrant a response.

In Lancashire a patient called to report a pain in her hand. 

In Cheshire, someone had cut their toenail and reported that the toe was hurting.

In Cumbria, a patient cut their forehead in the morning and called 999 at 9pm to say it might need stitches.

All of these callers were told to seek advice elsewhere and each 999 call costs the NHS £8.47 with a fully crewed ambulance response unit costing approximately £240.

Ged Blezard from NWAS added: "We are here to come to the aid of people who are in urgent need but are consistently called for ailments such as these which we can’t deal with.

"Because of the sheer volume of calls, patients who really need us are waiting longer than they should do and our crews find this deeply frustrating.

"Our message to the public is that if our call is not urgent, it would make more sense to seek advice elsewhere before calling.”