INCREASING pressures faced by the region’s ambulance service were illustrated when a schoolboy had to wait six hours to be treated after suffering an injury.

Last night the North-East Ambulance Service (NEAS) upgraded its operational status to "severe pressure" for the first time in several years and warned that vehicles may take longer to get to potentially life threatening calls.

The youngster, who has not been named, is understood to have injured his knee at about 2pm on Monday (December 15) in the gym at Bishop Barrington School, in Bishop Auckland.

The pupil was still there at 8pm after waiting for about six hours until the ambulance arrived.

A spokesman for the NEAS added: “We are sorry the pupil had to wait for an ambulance. At the time all the crews were allocated to higher priority cases, such as cardiac arrests and serious trauma.

“Unfortunately we were unable to send a crew as quickly as we would have liked due to exceptionally high pressures. During these periods we have to prioritise paramedics to patients most in need.”

Headteacher Jackie Gent said: “We were in regular contact with the ambulance service and were understanding of the service’s need to concentrate its efforts on life and death emergencies.

“Staff and the pupil's mum were extremely supportive while we awaited an ambulance and I am pleased to say the pupil involved seems to be making a good recovery.”

The NEAS last night declared its operational status at level four - meaning its response to potentially life-threatening calls has deteriorated.

The neighbouring Yorkshire Ambulance Service is experiencing similar pressures, and moved to a level five status last Friday.

There are six levels of alert in the national framework designed to maintain an effective and safe operational and clinical response for the UK’s ambulance services. Eight out of ten ambulance services in England are now at level four or above.