Can you come and unblock my toilet? The stupidest 999 calls made over Christmas holidays

  • Woman also called ambulance service to complain that she had a cotton bud stuck in her ear
  • Male caller dialled 999 because he had toothache
  • Dog in distress led to urgent request for paramedics

By
Anthony Bond

Last updated at 1:47 PM on 29th December 2011

As the frontline for medical emergencies the ambulance service is used to receiving the occasional bizarre request for help.

But it seems that things may have got a little bit out of hand for paramedics in one part of the country over the festive period.

The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has released details of the ridiculous calls it received  – which incredibly included one man dialling 999 on Christmas Eve to ask for an ambulance to help unblock his toilet.

Problematic: The North West Ambulance Service has released details of the odd calls it received over the Christmas period

Problematic: The North West Ambulance Service has released details of the odd calls it received over the Christmas period

It was one of a string of odd calls made to paramedics in the Greater Manchester area.

Other ‘emergencies’ included a man
ringing to complain he had toothache and another patient who called for
assistance after getting a cotton bud stuck in her ear.

Another
of the time-wasting calls came from a man who phoned up to moan he had
an itchy eye – and had been having problems with it for three weeks.

And
on Christmas Day, the ambulance service was contacted by someone who
spotted a dog in distress in a river – and wanted to know if paramedics
could help rescue it.

Details of the calls were released by the ambulance service in an attempt to show that pranks and hoaxes can stop genuine emergencies from being answered. 

Bizarre: Ridiculous calls received by paramedics in the North West included a man dialling 999 on Christmas Eve to ask for an ambulance to help unblock his toilet

Bizarre: Ridiculous calls received by paramedics in the North West included a man dialling 999 on Christmas Eve to ask for an ambulance to help unblock his toilet

A spokesman for NWAS said it treated all 999 calls as potentially life-threatening – and appealed to people to only call in an emergency.

He said the false reports were diverting resources away from serious casualties.

Derek Cartwright, director of emergency service at NWAS, said: ‘These types of calls are clearly not life-threatening emergencies and therefore could have been treated more appropriately elsewhere.

‘We cannot stress enough the importance of keeping the 999 number free for genuine medical emergencies.  

‘When people are calling us for an aching knee, toothache or cut finger, life-threatening cases are also trying to get through and these are the people who need us the most.  

‘This message could not be more appropriate at this time of year, as we traditionally see an increase in alcohol-related incidents over the holiday period and New Year’s Eve in particular, many of which could be avoided if people took a sensible approach to drinking and looked out for each other.

‘Please help us to help the people who need us most, by thinking before you dial 999 – do you really need an ambulance?’

The time-wasting calls were made despite bosses at NHS North West releasing a series of comedy films urging the public not to waste the time of hospital staff and paramedics during the Christmas party season.

The Christmas-themed clips, filmed at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, aimed to encourage sensible drinking – and stop people using 999 and AE resources needlessly.

The footage, based on real-life scenarios, featured a businessman forced to listen to a woman who expects doctors to perform the ‘public service’ of cutting up her oversized frozen turkey.

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

Thank you for the picture of a toilet, without it I wouldn’t have known what one looked like. – Sophie, London , 29/12/2011 14:10 Hilarious!!!
– Me, London, 29/12/2011 15:13
GLAD I BROUGHT A SMILE TO YOUR FACE TODAY 🙂

Why do people not differenciate between doctors, police and emergency fire service on 999 calls?

Great stuff guys!

Thanks, DM. I wondered what a toilet looked like.

yes you stupid people you can die by tooth ache it can cause an abcess and cause blood poison and if you cant get a dentist or an emergency one that day what r you suppose to do . red arrows all you want

That’s why I always phone NHS 24 first to get their opinion on what to do. My mum has a seizure disorder so often collapses on me (literally, half the time) but I never know WHO to phone for help. So I contact NHS 24, explain the situation and they inevitably phone 99 for me. Better than just phoning 999 and finding out I am wasting their time.

What disturbs me is why we have had to bring in a new set of rules for everyone (in this case, a new phone number to ring for non-emergencies), in order to address and resolve this idiotic usage of the 999 service.
For years we have not needed this other number.
So, as a nation, we must be becoming more stupid then presumably?

test

Silly Mancs. Too much of their hosing benefit spent on solvents, drugs and booze resulting in below average intelect.

A TV and newspaper advertising campaign is needed to educate the masses on the correct purpose for dialing 999. The woman who rang to report her toilet was blocked needs to understand her pointless call could have cost someone their life! If it was to save a member of her family, doubtless she would be very angry!!

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