Steve Boucher, SWASFT County Commander for Somerset, said: “All our staff in the Control Room and out on the road work extremely hard throughout the busy winter season to deliver the right care for our patients.

“The 999 service should only be used for genuine, time-critical and life-threatening situations when emergency care really could be the difference between life and death.

“If you call 999 because someone is unconscious, not breathing, or has serious bleeding, you are making the right call.

“But calling for an ambulance when it is not absolutely necessary puts additional pressure on our limited resources, and may mean we cannot reach those who are most in need.

"During peak periods like the festive season every inappropriate call can put lives at risk and delay our response to genuine emergencies.

“Please think carefully before calling 999 and ask yourself: ‘Is it a real emergency?’”

People should always call 999 if someone has stopped breathing, has severe chest pain, is choking, may be having a stroke, has serious blood loss, or is unconscious.

For less serious conditions people could phone NHS 111, visit a GP or pharmacy, or go to NHS walk-in centre.

The ‘12 Days of Christmas’ messages are: 

1. Choose well by only calling 999 in a life-threatening emergency.
2. Practice proper hand hygiene to prevent the spread of norovirus.
3. Teach children how to call 999 and what their address is.
4. When appropriate try to make your own way to hospital.
5. Stay safe on nights out and plan your journeys.
6. Use the ambulance service wisely and make appropriate use of other healthcare services.
7. If someone stops breathing, start CPR and call 999 immediately. Use a defibrillator if one is available.
8. Hoax calls waste time, money and resources, and can even put lives at risk.
9. Cook your turkey properly to prevent food poisoning.
10. People who make regular, unnecessary 999 calls may prevent the ambulance service helping those patients most in need.
11. Alternative free healthcare is available from the NHS 111 service and at your local pharmacy.
12. Please call 999 only in a life-threatening emergency.

The inappropriate calls were made to SWASFT because:

1. A woman had broken her finger.
2. A woman wanted the telephone number for a pharmacy.
3. A woman had no transport to a hospital appointment.
4. The caller decided to make a hoax call.
5. A man was blocked-in by an ambulance attending an emergency call.

“We are continuing our efforts to manage demand and ensure patients continue to receive the right care.

“We expect the demand to remain high during the next few months, and so we would continue to urge patients to use NHS services wisely. Patients can help to reduce pressure by using the most appropriate NHS service for their needs, and by calling 999 only if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.”

SWASFT is reminding people to choose the most appropriate service for their conditions, and only to call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.

That includes if someone has stopped breathing, has severe chest pain, is choking, may be having a stroke, has serious blood loss, or is unconscious.

Help with less serious conditions is available from GP surgeries, pharmacies, by dialling NHS111 or visiting NHS111 online, or by visiting local walk-in centres.

To follow the ’12 Days of Christmas’ campaign, see our Twitter and Facebook pages.