"Councillor Angie Baily reported people using ambulances as a "taxi service" as well as for minor injuries like "dropping a can of Budweiser on their toe". "It's absolutely scandalous," said Cllr Baily at a council meeting this week, "it really makes my blood boil." She said her recent experience with the service was "phenomenal" as paramedics arrived within 16 minutes of her call to help her unwell grandmother. They were "absolutely fantastic", she added, when they arrived back to report her grandmother's status in hospital."
"However, staff reported widespread abuse of the system, highlighting the regular occurrence of people using ambulances as a "taxi service". They alleged people often ring ambulances at night if they can't get a taxi and will be transported to hospital, only to immediately leave and walk the rest of the way home. "Taking an ambulance out of circulation can waste 40 minutes which delays ambulances and puts people and lives at risk," said Cllr Baily."
"The national ambulance service received more than 250 hoax 999 calls in the first 10 months of 2024, diverting resources away from genuine emergencies. "Our ambulance services are under pressure," she said. "They deserve a system that supports them and protects their time and makes sure they are available for a genuine emergency... they deserve to be heroes at the place where they need to be saving lives.""
People are using ambulances as informal taxis and for trivial injuries such as dropping a can on a toe. Paramedics once arrived within 16 minutes to assist an unwell elderly patient and later reported the patient's hospital status. Staff report frequent night-time calls when taxis are unavailable, with some patients leaving hospital immediately and walking home. Removing an ambulance from circulation can waste about 40 minutes, delaying responses and endangering lives. Knowingly calling an ambulance without good reason is a criminal offence but prosecutions are rare. Over 250 hoax 999 calls were recorded in the first ten months of 2024. Local response-time concerns in Cork and Kerry are being exacerbated, prompting a request for stronger measures from justice and other agencies.
Read at Irish Independent
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