East Midlands Ambulance Service

28/05/2026

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) has stood down the business continuity incident declared earlier this week (as at 13.00 hours, Thursday 28 May 2026).

The incident was declared following sustained pressure on services across the region, including a significant increase in demand for emergency care.

On Tuesday 26 May, EMAS handled more than 4,500 999 calls – one of the busiest days experienced outside of winter.

While the business continuity incident has been stood down, we know the pressures experienced over the past week remain.

Our focus now is on recovery – improving response times and reducing the waits patients have experienced across our communities, while continuing to prioritise the most life-threatening and serious incidents.

This will be supported by continued senior oversight and coordination over the coming weeks.

We would like to thank our staff and volunteers, who have worked tirelessly during this period to continue supporting patients across the region, and our NHS partners for their continued support despite the significant pressures they are also facing.

Members of the public are asked to continue supporting us during this period.

999 should always be used when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

If your condition is not life-threatening, other NHS services may be able to help you more effectively, including:

• NHS 111
• Local pharmacies
• Urgent Treatment Centres
• Your GP

Choosing the most appropriate service helps ensure ambulances are available for those who need them most.

27/05/2026

Dr Steven D***s, Clinical Director at East Midlands Ambulance Service, shares the latest update on the ongoing business continuity incident.

He explains the ongoing pressures, what we're doing to manage demand, and how the public can help us support those with the greatest clinical need.

26/05/2026

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) has declared a business continuity incident (as at 19.15 hours, Tuesday 26 May 2026) following sustained pressure on its services across the region.

In recent days, demand for emergency care has increased, including as a result of the hot weather, alongside wider pressures being experienced across the NHS.

A business continuity incident is declared when services may be disrupted below expected levels and additional arrangements are required to maintain patient care.

Declaring a business continuity incident allows EMAS to take additional steps, working closely with NHS partners, to help ensure ambulance crews are available to respond to patients in the community.

This includes:

🟢 Supporting the timely handover of patients at hospital emergency departments, so ambulance crews can return to responding to 999 calls.

🟢 Working with healthcare providers to ensure patients are directed to the most appropriate care.

🟢 Continuing to prioritise the most life-threatening and serious incidents.

This is to ensure emergency ambulances are available to respond to people in the community where life is at risk.

We recognise this is challenging for our NHS partners, who are also working under significant pressure, and we are grateful for their continued support.

Alongside this, EMAS is maximising available resources and reviewing how ambulance crews are deployed across the region.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely, with a focus on maintaining safe patient care and returning to normal service levels as soon as possible.

Members of the public are asked to support us during this period of high demand.

999 should always be used when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

If your condition is not life-threatening, there are other NHS services available that may be able to help you.

These include:

- NHS 111 online or by phone.
- Local pharmacies.
- Urgent Treatment Centres.
- Your GP (including out-of-hours services).

Choosing the most appropriate service helps ensure our ambulance crews are available for those who may need them most.

Additional information:

1) Given the severity of the concern, senior leaders will continue to respond to the challenges faced and to ensure support for staff and volunteers at work. Therefore, media interviews will not be conducted tonight. Media requests should be sent via [email protected] and will be responded to tomorrow.

2) In response to pressures in the NHS system and on ambulance services, on Tuesday 26 May 2026, EMAS escalated to Resource Escalation Action Plan (REAP) Level 4 – the highest level which indicates a potential for failures within the service.

3) The Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response framework describes as business continuity incident as: ‘an event or occurrence that disrupts, or might disrupt, an organisation’s normal service delivery, below acceptable predefined levels, where special arrangements are required to be implemented until services can return to an acceptable level (this could be a surge in demand requiring resources to be temporarily redeployed).

26/05/2026

Our control room colleagues, ambulance crews and volunteers are working hard to respond to those who need us most.

We are currently experiencing very high demand, and the wider NHS is also under significant pressure. This means it's more important than ever to access the most appropriate service for your needs.

If you need urgent medical help that isn't life-threatening, there are other NHS services available - including pharmacies, NHS 111, and urgent treatment centres - which can help.

If you're able to safely make your own way to a local NHS service, such as an urgent treatment centre or if it's an emergency, A&E, with support from a family member or by taxi, this may help you receive care more quickly.

Only calling 999 for life-threatening emergencies helps ensure our crews are available to respond to those patients in critical need.

26/05/2026

Thunderstorms are forecast across the East Midlands later this afternoon, including into the evening commute. Some areas may see heavy showers with thunder and lightning ⛈️

💦 Rain may be heavier in places, which could lead to surface water on roads and pavements.

🧐 Visibility can reduce quickly during downpours, so take care if travelling.

👂 If you hear thunder, it's a good idea to move indoors or into a vehicle.

🌳 Try to keep clear of open spaces and tall or exposed objects, such as trees and metal fencing.

⏱️ Allow a little extra time for journeys and check travel updates if needed.

25/05/2026

We’re likely to see the hottest day of the year so far today. That means people heading to the sea, rivers, lakes, quarries and reservoirs.

Every year our crews respond to tragic incidents involving unsafe swimming.

Open water is unpredictable:
• Hidden currents
• Sudden drop-offs
• Mud, weeds and debris
• Temperatures far colder beneath the surface leading to cold water shock

Please don’t take the risk.

If someone is in trouble:
• Call 999 immediately
• Shout for help
• Throw something that floats
• Do not jump in — you could become a second casualty

Look after each other and enjoy the weather safely.

With warm weather forecast this weekend and into next week, more of us will enjoy spending time in, on, or around water, so it’s important to stay safe.

Almost half (47%) of UK accidental drownings happen between May and August, with higher risks during warmer weather.

Keep yourself and your family safe:
• Check for hazards, including depth, currents, tides, and hidden underwater objects.
• Stay together and swim in lifeguarded areas.

In an emergency:
• Call 999 immediately
• If you fall in or become tired, stay calm, float on your back, and call for help

Take a few minutes to read our essential water safety advice:
👉 www.rlss.org.uk/water-safety-advice

24/05/2026

We have very sad news to share, that a 15-year-old boy has not been seen since entering the water at Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln, this afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the area at 2.30pm on Sunday 24 May, following reports of a boy getting into trouble in the water.

Despite the very best efforts of people at the lake and the emergency services who arrived on scene, the boy has not yet been located.

We continue to search the lake and our Under Water Search Team will be assisting with this.

We have informed the family of the boy and our thoughts are with them at this incredibly difficult time.

It is vitally important that people do not speculate or share information that is not accurate. Information that the boy has been found at this time is wrong. We will update our information when we can.

The area remains closed with emergency services continuing to work at the lake. We ask that the public respects the situation and allows us to carry out our duties with the dignity that everyone would hope for, and that people do not congregate or attend Swanholme Lakes.

Incident 296 of 24 May

23/05/2026

The sun is going to be sticking around for a while 😎

Elderly people, young children, and people with certain medical conditions have a higher risk of becoming poorly in the heat. If you're concerned about your health, or the health of another person, you should:
📞 Call NHS 111 for advice
⚠️ Only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency.

More advice about staying well in warm weather is on the NHS website - https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather

21/05/2026

Good morning East Midlands 💚

Ambulance crew Lizzie and Jack captured this glorious sunrise in Leicestershire this morning.

Our service usually faces increased calls for help in hot weather. Please support friends and family who may be more vulnerable in the coming days. More advice: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather/

20/05/2026

✨Latest vacancies✨ Join our teams saving lives in the East Midlands. All details are on our website - www.emas.nhs.uk/vacancies

⏰Closing 24/05
🔹Advanced Paramedic (Pre-hospital Care)
🔹Senior Information Security Engineer
🔹NEPTS Administrator
⏰Closing 31/05
🔹Qualified Paramedic (Northamptonshire)
🔹Qualified Paramedic - Job Share (Gainsborough)
🔹Qualified Paramedic - Job Share (Skegness)
🔹Qualified Paramedic - Job Share (Derbyshire)
🔹Qualified Paramedic/Tech - Job Share (Scunthorpe)
🔹Qualified ECA/ASC/Technician - Job Share (Scunthorpe)
🔹Qualified ECA/ASC/Technician - Job Share (Grimsby)
🔹Qualified ECA/ASC/Technician - Job Share (Market Rasen)
🔹Qualified ECA/ASC/Technician - Job Share (Spalding)
🔹NEPTS Controller & Planner (Lincolnshire)
🔹Assistant Manager - Training
🔹Divisional Senior Clinical Leader (Nottinghamshire)
🔹Senior Infrastructure & Systems Engineer

19/05/2026

After 40 years of service in the NHS, at the age of 82, Corby Domestic Susan Ryan is retiring. Susan was recognised for her commitment and contribution to the station last year, when she was awarded a Chief Executive's Commendation at our Reward and Recognition event.

In her nomination, Station Manager Victoria said:

"The station is immaculate, Susan bakes cake weekly and is the heart and soul of the station."

Upon receiving her commendation, Susan said:

"The reason I’m still here is the people. The crews and the bosses. I’ve seen a few come and go over the years and they are all lovely. They do an amazing job and I’m just happy to help by supporting them in any way I can."

Congratulations on your outstanding achievement and retirement Susan! 🌟