8% rise in Hogmanay ambulance calls

Jan 1 2013

Ambulance staff dealt with an 8% rise in emergency calls over Hogmanay.

The total of 2,878 compares with 2,666 during the previous new year celebration, the Scottish Ambulance Service said.

The overall increase is almost entirely because of a large spike in calls to control centres in the west, which takes in Glasgow, where the total increased by about one third from 1,090 to 1,303.

In other regions, including Edinburgh, the total number of emergency calls increased by just seven over the 12 hours from 7pm on Hogmanay.

The most intense time for calls across Scotland was the four hours after midnight.

Daren Mochrie, of the Scottish Ambulance Service, said: "As always, our staff showed their professionalism and commitment on what is the most challenging night of the year, and did a fantastic job.

"They worked through the night to respond to patients in need when demand is at times extremely intense."