East Midlands Ambulance Service has declared a business continuity incident following sustained pressure on emergency services across the region.
The incident was declared at 7.15pm on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, after a significant rise in demand for emergency care in recent days, with the ongoing hot weather and wider NHS pressures contributing to the strain on ambulance services.
A business continuity incident is declared when services are disrupted below expected levels and additional measures are needed to maintain patient care safely.
EMAS confirmed that the declaration will allow the service to take extra steps alongside NHS partners to help keep ambulance crews available for emergencies in the community.
Measures being introduced include supporting quicker patient handovers at hospital emergency departments so crews can return to responding to 999 calls more rapidly, working with healthcare providers to ensure patients are directed to the most appropriate services, and continuing to prioritise the most serious and life-threatening incidents.
The ambulance service said the move is designed to ensure emergency vehicles remain available for patients whose lives may be at immediate risk.
Alongside the declaration, EMAS has escalated to REAP Level 4, the highest level within the Resource Escalation Action Plan framework, indicating the potential for failures within the service due to extreme operational pressures.
Senior leaders within the ambulance service continue to monitor the situation closely while reviewing how ambulance crews and resources are deployed across the East Midlands.
In a statement, EMAS acknowledged the challenges currently being faced across the wider NHS and thanked healthcare partners for their ongoing support during the period of heightened demand.
Members of the public are being urged to only call 999 in genuine life-threatening emergencies.
For non-emergency medical concerns, residents are being advised to use alternative NHS services including NHS 111 online or by telephone, local pharmacies, Urgent Treatment Centres, and GP surgeries including out-of-hours services.
EMAS added that choosing the most appropriate healthcare service will help ensure ambulances remain available for those who need them most urgently.
Due to the severity of the pressures currently facing the service, EMAS confirmed that senior leaders are focusing on operational response efforts and supporting staff and volunteers, meaning media interviews will not be conducted tonight.
Photo: Electric Egg
