AMBULANCE SERVICE BUSY

South East Coast Ambulance Service experiences one of its busiest days of the year on New Year's Day.

The trust responded to 556 emergency calls from the public between up until and 4am today.

In Kent, the control centre responded to 188 emergency calls between 12am and 4am. This compares to 147 responses 12am and 4am last year.

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In Surrey, crews responded to 168 emergency calls between 12am and 4am. This compares to 169 responses last New Year's day.

In Sussex crews responded 220 emergency calls between 12am and 4am and this compares to 177 emergencies between 12am and 4am last year.

In an average Sunday between 12am and 4am, Kent can expect to receive 60 emergency calls. In Surrey the figure is 55 and in Sussex it is 54.

Director of Operations and Performance, Sue Harris, said: "This is always a busy time of the year for the ambulance service and as such we put in place plans to ensure we can cope with the increase in emergency calls."

* South East Coast Ambulance Service was formed on 1 July 2006, following the merger of Kent, Surrey and Sussex ambulance trusts and is one of twelve ambulance services operating in England.