Health bosses have written to all GPs in Medway urging them to only call an ambulance for a patient if absolutely necessary.

The advice has been issued as the ambulance service faces ‘higher demand than usual’ for this time of year, resulting in paramedics taking longer to get to some emergencies.

Strood GP Julian Spinks said the letter asked doctors to “think very hard” before calling an ambulance to transport a patient to hospital.

GPs will usually dial 999 in an emergency such as a heart attack or a stroke, or if a patient is in too much pain or too frail to take themselves to A&E.

Dr Spinks said: “A GP will not call an ambulance for the fun of it, they will only order one when they have to.

“I would usually ask if there was a relative who could take them to hospital, often it is quicker for them to go by car than by ambulance anyway.

“Following this letter, I would ask a little harder if there is a relative who could take a patient. But the safety of the patient comes firsts and I don’t believe they should suffer or be put at risk because of the system not working.”

He added: “It is worrying that we are in very early autumn and have not yet reached the colder months when there is traditionally greater pressure on ambulances and emergency departments. If they are struggling to meet demand now, what will it be like in the winter?”

A South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) spokesperson said: “SECAmb and the NHS as a whole continues to be extremely busy.

"We are continue to face higher demand than we would usually expect at this time of year meaning it is taking us longer than we would like to attend some calls.

“This letter is part of regular conversations across our whole region driven not only by the demand facing our service but also demand on hospitals.

"We are working closely with our colleagues across the NHS to manage this demand and would like to thank them and the public for their support.”

The letter was sent to all GPs on August 30.