January 23, 2018 9.42 am This story is over 74 months old

Top 10 senseless reasons why people called an ambulance

EMAS received nearly 60,000 999 calls in December 2017.
EMAS call centre operator

Broken eggs, a dead fox and someone who wanted crews to make them breakfast are some of the inappropriate 999 calls East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) call handlers have taken in the last six months.

EMAS received 59,349 999 calls in December 2017, with 922 patients in cardiac arrest, 6,543 people with breathing difficulties and 1,526 patients experiencing a stroke.

Some of these 999 calls received were not for emergency situations.

Recent inappropriate calls have included someone with a broken toenail, someone who wanted a taxi home and a patient waiting to be seen at a GP surgery, but who did not want to wait the 30 minutes for their appointment.

Take a look at the top 10 senseless reasons in our region:

  1. Person pouring milk over their body – as part of an art installation
  2. Wants sleeping tablets
  3. Toothache
  4. Dead fox
  5. At GP surgery, does not want to wait 30 mins for appointment
  6. Someone had stolen their drinking glass
  7. Wants bandage changing
  8. Wants someone to make them breakfast
  9. Wants a taxi
  10. Big toenail has come off

Simon Tomlinson, general manager for Emergency Operations Centres at EMAS, said: “When you call 999 because someone is unconscious, not breathing, having chest pains or has the symptoms of a stroke, you are making the right call.

“Our emergency call handlers are trained to deliver life-saving instructions over the phone and we will get help to you as quickly as possible.

“You could receive the right treatment for you more quickly by contacting an alternative NHS service, such as your local pharmacy or NHS111, particularly if your call is not a serious emergency.

“Please help us to make sure we can reach the people who need us the most.”