Paramedics reveal their worst time-wasting offences

East Midlands Ambulance Service has revealed its worst eamples time-wasting patients as it is announced this week that pressure on the service leaves it in chronic debt.
Is it an emergency? EMAS warns that pressure from unnecessary call-outs is burdening the service. (Picture: A first-aider dresses a false cut as part of St John's Ambulance training).Is it an emergency? EMAS warns that pressure from unnecessary call-outs is burdening the service. (Picture: A first-aider dresses a false cut as part of St John's Ambulance training).
Is it an emergency? EMAS warns that pressure from unnecessary call-outs is burdening the service. (Picture: A first-aider dresses a false cut as part of St John's Ambulance training).

Our paramedics receive thousands of hoax calls each year in the East Midlands - cumulatively 29,874 from 2011-2015.

But this list revealed in a Freedom of Information request sent to the service in December includes 10 examples of genuine 999 call-outs which were deemed to be non-emergencies.

10. A broken toe nail

9. A moth was in a patient’s ear

8. There was a dead cat outside their house

7. Someone had dropped their keys down a drain

6. A hamster had bitten somebody’s finger

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5. A broken finger nail, which had been swallowed and concern was raised as to whether the patient would choke

4. Woman late having a period

3. Milk had gone past its sell-by date

2. Patient wanting to be carried upstairs because their stair lift was broken

1. Popcorn being stuck in-between teeth

Source: EMAS Freedom of Information disclosure log (EMAS stressed it takes all call-outs seriously).