SOUTH Central Ambulance Service has said verbally abusing call staff is not acceptable as it deals with "extreme pressure".
Recent figures show that some patients waited more than an hour at hospitals in Southampton and Hampshire before being passed from the ambulance into the care of A&E staff.
A spokesperson for the service said that it works closely with hospitals, adding that the NHS is facing "considerable demand" and significant numbers of the most serious callouts.
But now the trust has spoken out about abuse by callers towards staff as it grapples with ongoing challenges.
READ MORE: Southampton A&E: Patients waiting in ambulance for up to an hour
The spokesperson added: "All our staff are doing their very best in very challenging circumstances to help and advise those that are calling, and that it is not acceptable for them to be verbally abused by frustrated callers.
"We don’t tolerate our staff being treated in this way and we would ask callers to be patient and to treat our staff with the courtesy and respect that they deserve.
"NHS staff have worked incredibly hard to prepare for this winter with new 24/7 system control centres, falls response services and additional beds and call handlers and it is vital that people continue to come forward for care when they need it by using 999 and A&E in a life-threatening emergency and 111 online for other health conditions."
NHS England figures have shown that in the week leading up to December 18, 81 patients were forced to wait between 30 minutes and an hour before being allowed to enter University Hospital Southampton.
However, NHS targets state that trusts should complete 95 per cent of all ambulance handovers in 30 minutes.
The ambulance spokesperson went on to say there has been a "huge increase in the number of hospital flu cases compared to last year and difficulties discharging thousands of patients who are medically fit for discharge.
"111 phone services remain under extreme pressure, so wherever possible please use 111 online initially."
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