Campaign over 'ridiculous' 999 calls

The poster campaign is working but not everyone has got the message

Ambulance services are keeping the pressure on the public with their campaign to stamp out trivial 999 calls.

More than 15,000 posters appeared across the north of England in the run-up to the festive season featuring the message "Call an ambulance for the wrong reason and someone could die".

The campaign - which is being backed by services in West Yorkshire (WYMAS), South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Cumbria, North East, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Tees, East and North Yorkshire - has already helped to cut down on the amount of frivolous 999 calls, but not everyone has got the message.

In the last few days WYMAS has received calls from a man who stubbed his toe, a woman who wanted an ambulance for a dead cat in the road and a child whose mother told her to ring 999 and ask if Santa was there because the child was annoying her.

Christmas calls A woman upset after an argument with a friend A man who tried to pull his tooth out with pliers Someone who lost their keys

Director of operations for WYMAS, Bob Williams, said they were delighted with the success of the campaign so far but were still stunned at the "ridiculous" nature of some of the calls they received.

"If you are feeling unwell or are in pain you might not be thinking straight and call for an ambulance when perhaps your pharmacist, GP, NHS Direct or even dentist might be a better option," he said.

"But to call 999 when you've lost your keys or because you've had a row with someone is wasting time and putting lives at risk."