999 timewasters who are leaving patients in agony

IT’S shocking that an elderly lady with a broken hip had to wait seven hours for an ambulance (Mail). My friend, aged 88, fell and dislocated a shoulder, but was told to make his own way to hospital because there were no ambulances available.

It seems drug addicts, drunks and time-wasters are taking up valuable ambulance time. Drunks aren’t ill, just stupid, while junkies will be treated and then just go out and take drugs again.

Meanwhile, genuine patients are left waiting in pain, which is a disgusting state of affairs.

The NHS is stretched to the limit, so timewasters who call 999 should be charged for using this essential emergency service. Mrs D. A. DOBSON,

Beccles, Suffolk. SOUTH Western Ambulance Service’s excuse for not attending the lady with a broken hip was that it was dealing with more serious cases. So let them prove it by showing that day’s log. PHILIP CORDINGLEY,

Banbury, Oxon. AMBULANCE response times could be improved at little cost.

I was in A&E when an ambulance arrived with a patient. The two paramedics sat with the woman, waiting to hand her over.

The ambulance parked outside was soon joined by three more, so there were eight paramedics waiting to hand over four patients.

Surely a nurse trained in triage could have taken over the care of these patients, allowing the four ambulances and the paramedics to get back on the road.

K. JACKSON, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan. INSTEAD of criticising ambulance crews, we should tell people not to call 999 for trivial complaints.

My son is an ambulance technician and has been called out to a stubbed toe, period pains, backache and toothache; none of them accidents or emergencies PAULINE KERRIDGE,

Grays, Essex.