[katex]

Originally Posted by derekgas

What this fellow did was a disgrace, and some of the opinions here are not much better, a woman having a baby for the first time (and I know this woman wasnt a first timer), should be entitled if in any doubt to ring for an ambulance, information is the key, I have witnessed several labours, but was only informed fairly recently that the childbearer should be having contractions no more than 17 minutes apart, prior to this info, I had no idea that there were ideal times to wait to, my current partner had a baby within 33 minutes of first having any pain, if I had put her in the car and crashed the car trying to get to hospital quickly, how many people could be put in danger? Drunken people should be allowed to call an ambulance also, or the police call it for them, if somebody is incapable of looking after themselves, then care should be forthcoming, especially in these days of drugs, spiked drinks etc, if an ambulance is called without due cause, then a bill should be issued, if there may be an issue with false calls putting somebody in danger, then as usual these days for the health service it means cutbacks have left not enough ambulances/staff on standby to cover demand.

I don't feel we are fed enough information Derek as to just when we need an ambulance. Logically, when a condition is life-threatening; but not everybody understands this, and think it is their right to 'phone for minor things. Lots of people don't 'phone either when they should have.

Think it would be a good idea to have a little campaign to educate us. It shows on this thread that none of us are too sure of the whys and wherefores.