Dr. Cathal O'Donnell:

It is an international phenomenon that demands on ambulance services increase year on year. The increase we noticed this year of 10% was higher than we would have expected. It is still not clear why that it is. My sense is that because of difficulties that patients perceive in being seen at an accident and emergency department, they are more prepared to dial 999 to request an emergency ambulance in the belief that they will be seen faster. That is just an opinion, however.