FIREFIGHTERS in West Yorkshire attended dozens of medical emergencies last year ​– a significant increase since 2010.

The Fire Brigades Union says the rise in medical responses is typical of the additional pressures being put on firefighters, and that they should not be asked to play the part of doctors or paramedics.

The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service recorded ​75 non fire-related medical incidents in 2018-19, according to the latest Home Office statistics​. This was up ​from just 45 in 2010-11.

The increase mirrors that across England, where fire crews were called to 19,900 such cases last year. The numbers peaked in 2016-17, a year after emergency medical response trials were introduced that saw fire crews respond to medical emergencies alongside paramedics.

The Fire Brigades Union withdrew from the scheme in 2017, but fire services are still responding to far more medical incidents than before it began.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said any increase to firefighters’ workloads should include a “significant” increase in their pay, along with appropriate training.

“Firefighters are there to keep their communities safe from fire and other hazardous emergency incidents,” he added.

“While there may be occasions when firefighters are required to attend medical emergencies, they are not doctors, paramedics, nurses, or social carers – and nor should they be.

“Firefighters are overstretched and under-paid, and services are under-resourced.”

At the time the FBU withdrew from the trial, the National Fire Chiefs Council said it was “very disappointed” with the decision.