AMBULANCE bosses have urged people only to phone 999 when absolutely necessary, after soaring fuel prices left them with an £850,000 budget black hole.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) said too many people were calling for ambulances needlessly, because they thought it would help them jump the queue for treatment at hospital.

The service has also told staff to adopt more efficient driving techniques in an attempt to drive down costs.

New figures show the service spent £4.97 million last year on petrol and diesel for its vehicles – £856,500 more than budgeted for. Last year’s bill was £400,000 less than in 2008/9, but nearly £1 million higher than two years ago.

A spokeswoman said: “The majority of the increase in fuel costs for 2009/10 can be attributed to the significant rise in fuel prices during the year.

The remainder is due to extra vehicles being deployed.”

She said YAS was working hard to cut spending and wanted the public to think twice before dialling 999, and staff to apply “eco-driving techniques” whenever possible.

She said inappropriate call-outs were a constant problem and crews could be delayed on 999 calls because they were dealing with call-outs where alternative care would have been more suitable.

Inappropriate calls to the service have included people suffering from earache, toothache or a cut finger.

She said: “Jumping the queue at hospital emergency departments is believed to be a motive for many 999 calls.

“However, patients are treated at hospital according to the urgency of their medical need, regardless of how they made their way to hospital.

“We ask people to only call 999 for an ambulance in a medical emergency, when it is obvious that they or another person has a serious or life-threatening illness or injury and needs time-critical help.”

York Central MP Hugh Bayley said: “Ambulances provide for an emergency and the Government has a duty to see they are properly funded. The public must not abuse the service by calling an ambulance unless it’s a real emergency.”

Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams MP said he was confident the majority of North Yorkshire people would be sensible enough not to call an ambulance out unless they needed one.

But he said: “It’s absolutely crucial that people realise the ambulance service is an emergency service and residents need to make sure they only dial 999 when it’s necessary.”

Yorkshire Ambulance Service’s advice to the public includes:

• Don’t hesitate to call 999 in a medical emergency which is a critical or life-threatening situation, such as a suspected heart attack, chest pain, unconsciousness, heavy blood loss, serious accident, broken bones, severe breathing difficulties or head injuries.

• If you need simple medical advice, or information on GP opening hours, there is a range of other services, like NHS Direct, your GP or pharmacy, which could be more appropriate to your needs.

• Before phoning 999, think whether you really need emergency medical help, or if someone else’s need could be greater.


Fuel-saving tip

YORKSHIRE Ambulance Service said – after advising its drivers to try to conserve fuel – responses to 999 calls would still be treated as urgent.

Advice to drivers on non-emergency jobs includes:

• Drive smoothly – stop/start driving uses more fuel.

• Check revs – change gear between 2,000 and 2,500 revs.

• Turn off engines when vehicles have stopped.