AMBULANCE staff have asked the people of York, and North and East Yorkshire to help them get through the festive period - the emergency service's busiest time of year.

The overriding message they are stressing is that people should not hesitate to call 999 in potentially emergencies - such as loss of consciousness, severe chest pains, serious accident or loss of blood.

But members of the public are being advised that in less serious cases there may be alternatives to making an emergency call.

Tim Lynch, director of patient services for Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (TENYAS), said: "We don't want to deter anyone with a genuine emergency from calling us promptly, but a fair number of the calls we receive are from those who really need advice rather than an ambulance.

"Such calls can clog the call-taking system, putting us under extra, avoidable pressure.

"Committing an ambulance to a call where it is not required can put the lives of other patients at risk. We're just asking people to use their common sense."

Throughout the winter months there are added pressures on the service, with adverse weather conditions triggering an increase in road traffic accidents and the elderly and frail often succumbing to ailments like colds and flu.

Environmental conditions during the winter, which can include flooding, ice and snow, also affect the service, often making journey times longer.

In addition, staff sickness levels tend to rise over the festive period, as with any organisation.

But despite the Christmas season being the busiest period of the year for the service, efforts are continually made to achieve the best for patients and make the best use of resources.

Mr Lynch urged the public to consider a number of alternatives when they required medical advice or treatment.

These include: calling NHS Direct, the 24-hour helpline, on 0845 4647; contacting their GP; consulting their local pharmacist.

Updated: 10:39 Friday, December 20, 2002