New data reveals busiest year ever for East of England Ambulance Service - with challenging winter ahead
The service saw continued high demand for emergency care across the region in September when nearly 100,000 people called 999 for help
The East of England Ambulance Service - which covers Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, along with other surrounding counties - has tackled its busiest year ever – and is preparing for a challenging winter ahead.
The service saw continued high demand for emergency care across the region in September when nearly 100,000 people called 999 for help - with ambulance crews responding to more than 84,000 emergency incidents.
Demand was significantly higher than previous Septembers, with around 90,000 calls received in 2025 and 87,000 in 2024.
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The number of incidents requiring an ambulance response has also risen sharply, from around 73,000 in 2024 and 80,000 in 2025 to more than 84,000 this year.
These figures show that demand for ambulance services remains high as the NHS heads into the winter months, when services traditionally face additional pressures.
Darren Meads, Chief Operating Officer at EEAST, said: “Winter is always one of the busiest times of year for ambulance services, and the demand we experienced during September shows how important it is that we prepare early.
“Every call to our service is a person in need of help. We know that some people have suffered a fall or are having chest pain or breathing difficulties.
“We know that behind every patient there are families facing an anxious wait for support during one of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“Our ambulance crews and emergency operations centre teams work incredibly hard every day to provide the best possible care for patients, often in very challenging circumstances.
“We are working closely with our healthcare partners across the region because patients need the whole system to work together.
“By improving patient flow through hospitals and supporting people to receive care in the right place, we can help ambulances get back on the road more quickly and respond to the next patient in need.
“As we move into winter, our focus remains on providing safe, high-quality care and getting help to patients as quickly as possible."
The public can also play an important role in helping emergency services remain available for those who need them most.
Call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and requires immediate emergency care.
If you need urgent medical help but it is not a life-threatening emergency, use NHS 111 online or by phone, where trained advisers can direct you to the most appropriate service.
People can also help prepare for winter by ordering repeat prescriptions in good time, keeping vaccinations up to date and making use of local pharmacies, GPs and other NHS services when appropriate.
By choosing the right service for their needs, people can help ensure emergency ambulances remain available for patients facing life-threatening emergencies.