THE region’s ambulance chiefs must be praying for mild weather as we head towards what is traditionally the coldest part of the year.

Statistics suggest that for every degree the mercury drops the pressure on the NHS increases.

Mercifully, much of the North-East and North Yorkshire has got off lightly so far this winter.

But the fact that the North East Ambulance Service has warned that it is under such severe pressure that it may take longer for A&E vehicles to get to potentially life-threatening calls is a sign that the emergency service we all rely on is in deep trouble.

With calls to the NEAS up by almost 10 per cent on last year, ambulance bosses have upgraded their operational status to level four - which means that patient transport ambulances are being redeployed as A&E vehicles and paramedic trainers and managers are swapping their backroom roles for active service on the front line.

The Yorkshire Ambulance Service went one better last Friday, moving up to level five, just one step away from level six, defined as “potential service failure”.

One issue is the long delays in handing over often very poorly and elderly patients at hospital A&E departments but this is just one element in a combination of factors

Health unions have complained of unfilled nursing places and a shortage of paramedics while Opposition politicians have accused the Government of underfunding the Health Service.

The main problem would appear to be the growing infirmity of our population combined with the increasing tendency of people with minor ailments and injuries to ring for an ambulance, despite appeals to the contrary.

All we can do is to endorse the call to be sensible about using a precious resource. If it is not a genuine emergency ring 111 for advice or visit the NHS Choices website. If you can’t wait to see your GP consider going to your local urgent care centre.

As temperatures fall we must remember we are all in this together.