Home Europe UK ambulance service urges public to refrain from non-urgent calls

UK ambulance service urges public to refrain from non-urgent calls

by editor

The UK ambulance service is urgently appealing to the public to cease making non-emergency calls. With the healthcare system under significant pressure, the increase in non-urgent requests is diverting vital resources away from those experiencing genuine medical emergencies.

Alarming statistics highlight the issue

Last year, the ambulance service received approximately 426,000 calls, with 15% of these classified as non-urgent—translating to an average of 175 daily calls that could have been avoided. Interestingly, some of these calls were not health-related at all, illustrating a troubling disconnect in understanding what constitutes a true medical emergency.

Among the more unusual requests was a call concerning a chipped tooth, where the caller stated, “it’s starting to throb”. Another individual reported a minor injury, saying, “I’ve cut my little nail on the toe and I’ve nipped across the top of it.” A particularly perplexing case involved a caller who was worried about potential electrocution after sticking their finger in an electrical socket, despite appearing unharmed.

Dispatchers face unique challenges

Emma Worrall, a dispatcher within a busy Welsh call center, recalled one of her most memorable calls, which involved a pet alligator. “I remember saying ‘alligator?’ and my call-taker supervisor just looked at me and was like, ‘What is going on in your call?’” Worrall noted the challenges faced by dispatchers, who must maintain composure while assessing urgent situations where seconds can be critical.

“We just ask everybody to find alternative pathways before phoning for an ambulance,”

she urged. The service is committed to assisting individuals in life-threatening situations, and Worrall’s recollections highlight the daily struggle to manage calls that do not warrant emergency assistance.

One particularly striking incident involved a father who called about his son’s pet alligator that had escaped and was hiding under a sofa. When asked if anyone had been hurt, the father replied he was merely frightened. Worrall explained to him that paramedics could not be dispatched for such a matter, to which he responded, “So you’re not going to send me any help until I get bit, is that right?” to which she confirmed, “That’s correct.”

The South Western Ambulance Service revealed this week that over a quarter of the more than one million calls received last year were not emergencies. Such non-urgent requests included someone seeking help with locating their walking stick, a hospital patient who had fallen off a chair, and even a woman who complained about having had a “horrendous nightmare.”

William Lee, assistant operations director at South Western Ambulance, emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “Emergency calls are for situations where minutes matter and lives are at risk. Inappropriate calls tie up our emergency lines and divert valuable resources away from those in genuine need.”

Worrall, after dealing with the alligator incident, took a moment to share the story with her colleagues, finding humor in the bizarre exchange before returning to her critical work of managing emergency communications.

Related Posts