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The number of hoax calls made to the Welsh Ambulance Service (WAS) has increased by 37% in the last three years, with Caerphilly ranked fourth in incidents caused this year alone.

Ambulance crews across Wales have wasted more than 700 hours responding to hoax calls since 2021, according to figures collected by Medical Negligence Assist.

For the last year alone (August 2023 to September 2024), the highest number of hoax incidents which resulted in an ambulance response came from Cardiff – which logged 22 hoax calls.

Caerphilly ranked fourth having made 16 hoax calls between the same time period.

Asked about these figures, Jonathan Edwards, assistant director of operations for the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “The increase in the number of hoax calls is extremely disappointing and frustrating, especially at a time when the ambulance service and the wider NHS is under increased pressure.

“Time spent dealing with hoax calls could be time spent helping others whose situation is life or death.

“It could be giving CPR instructions for someone in cardiac arrest or arranging help for the victim of a road traffic collision.

“Sending ambulance resources to what turns out to be nothing more than a hoax call is, at best, frustrating and, at worst, deadly.

“Misuse of 999 is highly irresponsible, not to mention a criminal offence, and we work closely with police to prosecute where possible.

“Please only to call 999 for serious and life-threatening emergencies.”