PATIENTS were left waiting for an ambulance as under-pressure crews struggled to reach them in sub-zero temperatures yesterday.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust declared a major incident caused by an "unprecedented" number of calls due to the bad weather.
A paramedic, who asked not to be named, more than 500 patients were kept waiting for an ambulance for part of the day yesterday.
The health worker said the major incident had been exacerbated by problems with the rota system and crews being sent from East Yorkshire to respond to calls in West Yorkshire, where the worst of the weather happened.
Hundreds of 999 calls were made to the service after a spate of accidents on icy roads and people falling on frozen pavements.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust said the bad weather was to blame for the high number of calls and crews were moved around Yorkshire in an attempt to deal with the demands placed on the service.
A spokesman said: "The worst conditions were experienced in West and South Yorkshire and the trust has received hundreds of additional calls.
"As a regional service, we have the flexibility to move crews at any time to different areas to ensure they are sufficiently resourced.
"Therefore, at times of high demand like Friday, ambulance resources can be moved around the region."
He said support had to be drafted in from ambulance services around the country because so many calls flooded in.
"We have also received additional support from neighbouring ambulance services including North West Ambulance Service, West Midlands Ambulance Service and North East Ambulance Service," he said.
"Our staff across the region have been working extremely hard to respond as quickly and as safely as possible to patients needing our help and we would like to thank members of the public and patients for their understanding during this challenging time.
"The trust aims to provide a responsive, high quality ambulance service to the people of Yorkshire and the Humber and patient care remains our main priority at all times."
At lunchtime on Friday, the paramedic source claimed more than 100 calls were outstanding in Hull and the East Riding alone.
The paramedic, who asked not to be identified, said: "I feel desperately sorry for the people we are supposed to serve."
The paramedic said the number of calls outstanding across the Yorkshire area was a first.
"There are frequently times when there is no one to respond to emergencies and that's the norm," said the paramedic. "But this is beyond that."
