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An ambulance trust has issued a plea to the public to help it manage demand during the Euro 2024 football championships.

South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) said it often saw an increase in demand following the final whistle in key international matches.

The trust said that at the last Euros in 2020, it received about 50% more 999 calls in the hour after England’s semi-final victory than in the previous hour.

People have been asked to enjoy the games sensibly, be aware of the impact their actions can have on its services and only dial 999 in a serious emergency.

Secamb's executive director of operations, Emma Williams, said: “We appreciate that many people will choose to watch the match at the pub or at home with friends.

"If people choose to drink alcohol while watching then, as ever, we urge them to be sensible and look after themselves and others to lessen the likelihood of having to call for our help.

"Just a few avoidable calls in an area can significantly impact on our ability to respond to other local emergencies quickly.”

People with a genuine emergency are urged not to ignore any symptoms such as chest pain during a game, only to call 999 at the end of the match

Others who are not facing an emergency should make use of alternatives such as NHS 111.

The trust said evidence also pointed to a link between high-profile football matches and an increase in domestic violence and abuse. It said help and advice is available via the NHS website.

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