The recent cold spell has prompted the West Midlands Ambulance Service to repeat its appeal to the public not to dial 999 unless absolutely necessary because it is under immense pressure to meet demand.
The service says it is experiencing a significant increase in calls due to the cold weather, snow, ice and recent flu epidemic.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Please only call the ambulance service in genuine emergencies and life threatening situations.
“The service is still experiencing inappropriate calls from people who have minor injuries from trips and falls, and also people with minor ailments associated with the cold weather.
“There are also still people calling with cases of colds and flu.
“The Trust is also asking the public to consider if the journey they are going to make this evening is totally necessary in such weather conditions.”
Over the first weekend of the New Year the Service received 1,256 calls in the Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire region compared to 1,093 for the same period last year.
