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. 1980 Jul 12;281(6233):121-3.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.281.6233.121.

Is the emergency ambulance service abused?

D L Morris, A B Cross

Is the emergency ambulance service abused?

D L Morris et al. Br Med J. .

Abstract

Analysis of 1000 consecutive patients brought to the accident and emergency department of a busy district general hospital by ambulance after emergency "999" telephone calls showed that 51.7% of these journeys were unnecessary. Medical cases accounted for a greater percentage of necessary calls than did trauma and surgical cases. Medical education of the public is essential if the number of these calls is to be cut.

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