Ambulance crews 'not taxi firms'

Ambulance crews bracing themselves for a "steep increase" in 999 calls in the run-up to Christmas have asked people not to call them if they need a taxi.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service warned people it was not a taxi service after a man, 30, from Northfleet, Kent, dialled 999 for a cab.

And it said "the idea you can jump the queue of a busy A&E if you arrive by ambulance is simply a modern myth".

The service asked people to think twice before calling for emergency help.

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In Kent last year, there was a 12% rise in ambulance emergency calls between November and December, with similar increases in Surrey and Sussex.

And in the past six months, people have made 999 calls to ambulance crews in Kent for a sore throat, a five-day-old foot injury, a request for transport home, an itchy wrist, and a hurt toe.

Chief executive Paul Sutton said: "There are a lot more people out shopping and partying.

"We do not want to stop people from enjoying themselves. However, we would ask them to think before dialling 999.

"The ambulance service is there to provide an emergency service to those people who require urgent medical attention at hospital and cannot transport themselves."