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Ambulance 999 timewasters 'risk lives' Ambulance 999 timewasters 'risk lives'
(about 1 hour later)
Calls about a man with a fly in his ear, a woman with a green potato and a child who drank from a dog's bowl are putting genuine emergencies at risk, the Welsh Ambulance Service has warned. It is not the kind of thing you would normally phone the emergency services for, but for one man 999 was where he turned when he got a fly in his ear.
It took more than 31,000 non-urgent calls via 999 in 2013/14, but only three resulted in hospital treatment. Another caller wanted to know if green potatoes were poisonous to eat.
One woman dialled 999 after her gas boiler broke down, while another wanted advice after a row with her brother. They were among more than 31,000 non-urgent calls made to the Welsh Ambulance service in 2013/14, and only three resulted in hospital treatment.
Ambulance chiefs urged people to think twice before making an emergency call. Ambulance chiefs urged people to think twice as genuine 999 callers were being put at risk.
The thousands of non-urgent calls to 999 handled by the Welsh Ambulance Service between July 2013 and June 2014 included: It came as the service revealed the thousands of non-urgent calls to 999 handled by the Welsh Ambulance Service between July 2013 and June 2014.
Calls included:
Richard Lee, head of clinical services at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: "When people misuse the service it means our precious time is being taken away from someone who really does need our help."Richard Lee, head of clinical services at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: "When people misuse the service it means our precious time is being taken away from someone who really does need our help."
Unless someone was seriously ill or injured or their life was at risk, people should contact their GP or NHS Direct Wales, Mr Lee added.Unless someone was seriously ill or injured or their life was at risk, people should contact their GP or NHS Direct Wales, Mr Lee added.
The 31,219 calls to 999 classed as non-urgent accounted for 7.4% of the total received by the Welsh Ambulance Service in 2013/14 of 423,729.The 31,219 calls to 999 classed as non-urgent accounted for 7.4% of the total received by the Welsh Ambulance Service in 2013/14 of 423,729.