London Ambulance Service activated its REAP 4 plans on 27 May 2026 to maintain care for patients during sustained demand, after call handlers received 8,121 999 calls the previous day, Tuesday 26 May. The service said this was an increase of 38 percent compared with 5,874 calls on the Tuesday the week before, and its sixth busiest day ever.
The service said crews attended the highest number of patients out on the road since the start of 2026 on Monday 25 May. It reported record numbers of calls between 2pm and midnight on the Tuesday. The REAP 4 plans include maximising other forms of care such as community response cars, having more clinicians assess patients over the phone, and working with hospitals so patients are handed over more quickly.
Alison Blakely, Deputy Chief Paramedic at London Ambulance Service, said:
"We continue to be extremely busy with yesterday being our busiest day since the height of the pandemic. It was our sixth busiest day ever, and we saw record numbers of calls from 2pm until midnight."
The service reported an increase in calls about difficulty in breathing, dizziness and fainting, and more calls about chest pains and heart problems. It said respiratory calls are often seen during high temperatures and cardiac-related calls are common in the days following a heatwave, and that people sometimes start to feel ill a few days after hot weather.
Why it matters for households
The service said older people, the very young and people with pre-existing conditions are more at risk in hot weather, and asked Londoners to look out for neighbours, family or friends who may need help and to make sure they can keep cool. It advised people to stay safe in the heat, drink plenty of fluids, avoid excess alcohol, stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, and check in on those who are vulnerable, including those over 65, young children and people with pre-existing health conditions. It asked Londoners to call 999 only in a life-threatening emergency and to consider using their GP, NHS 111 or NHS 111 online. The service said the weather was set to stay hot for the rest of the week.
For general guidance on how UK households prepare for and follow official warnings and health alerts, see the UK preparedness hub and the staying informed hub.
What happens next
The service said the hot weather was expected to continue for the rest of the week, and that people should continue to look after themselves and others because illness can begin a few days after hot weather. No further date for the REAP 4 activation to end has been reported.
