[lettie]

I also think that the air ambulance should be funded. The government is responsible for NHS funding and the ambulance services are lumped under the title of 'Care Trust' which also covers patient transport (you can access the NHS structure online at www.nhs.uk ) I think that people using ambulances unnecessarily should have to pay a charge of at least £50. The amount of people using our ambulances as a free taxi service is unbelievable. The ambulance crews are not allowed to tell these people off, but I have been known to give them a good rollocking when they arrive on our ward, then ring a friend for a lift home half an hour later after wasting everybody's time....