New data has revealed a sharp rise in call numbers to West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) this Christmas. 

Between 24 and 27 December, 19,078 emergency calls were taken - an 8.6% increase from the same period last year. 

There was an even bigger rise in 111 calls taken. In 2021, 15,213 calls were taken and this grew by 37.7% this year, to 20,942 calls. 

Trust Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said: "I would like to thank the many thousands of staff who worked over the Christmas period while most people were enjoying time with their family and friends.

"It is not just the staff on the road who worked so hard; I want to particularly note the work of the staff in our control rooms. These staff are at the forefront of everything that we do, finding out where we are required but also what is wrong with the patient so that our ambulance crews know what they are going into.

"The task at hand for our call handlers and dispatchers is often just as difficult as that experienced by our road staff; they all work exceptionally hard.

"I also want to thank the staff who support these staff, be it the vehicle preparation operatives who clean, fuel and restock the ambulances; the fleet mechanics who make sure we always have ambulances available but also the managers who look after the staff – it is a real team effort."