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From 17 to 23 August 2026, Wellington Free Ambulance attended 1,253 incidents, compared with 1,199 incidents during the previous week from 10 to 16 August. An increase of 4.5%. 

This follows a period of consistently high demand across the Wellington and Wairarapa region, placing additional pressure on ambulance crews and the wider health system. 

“Wellington Free Ambulance continues to experience high volumes of emergency 111 calls. The most common reasons for requesting an ambulance during this period have included referrals from health practitioners, chest pain, breathing difficulties, falls, and illnesses such as fever and infections, which is typical during the colder months. 

“We want to reassure our communities that our emergency ambulance services remain available, and we are continuing to respond to people who need our help. We remain committed to ensuring patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place, and from the right healthcare professional. 

“We continue to prioritise serious and life-threatening emergencies. For people with less urgent conditions, our dedicated team of Clinical Paramedic Advisors within the Clinical Hub provides clinical advice over the phone and helps connect patients with the most appropriate care. This can include referrals to other healthcare providers and community health services when an ambulance response is not required,” says Executive Medical Director Dr Erica Douglass. 

“As winter illnesses continue to impact our communities and place pressure on health services, we encourage people with non-life-threatening conditions to consider alternative options for medical treatment and advice, such as contacting their GP, visiting an after-hours medical centre, or calling Healthline. 

“However, anyone experiencing chest pain, difficulty breathing, symptoms of a stroke, or serious accident-related injuries should call 111 immediately. These are time-critical emergencies where prompt ambulance care can save lives and improve outcomes, and we want to ensure we are available for those who need us most,” says Dr Douglass. 

Wellington Free Ambulance is also continuing to work closely with Health New Zealand and hospital teams to support patient flow and manage periods of high demand. 

Delays handing over patients at hospital can mean ambulance crews remain committed for longer, reducing the number of ambulances available to respond to other emergencies in the community. 

Not every 111 call requires an ambulance, and not every ambulance attendance results in transport to an emergency department. Depending on the circumstances, patients may receive clinical advice or be supported to access another appropriate healthcare service. 

For non-emergency health concerns, people are encouraged to seek advice early through their GP, an online GP service, pharmacist or Healthline on 0800 611 116. 

We also ask people to treat our call takers, dispatchers, paramedics and other frontline teams with patience and respect. They are working incredibly hard to care for patients and support our communities. 

Wellington Free Ambulance will continue to monitor demand, ambulance availability, workforce capacity and wider health-system pressures and adjust its response as required.