THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN (NEWSPAPER) IN TOKYO, JAPAN, is reporting today that about half of the emergency ambulance calls in Tokyo are for non-emergencies.

The newspaper went out to 51 fire stations in Tokyo and some other major cities and asked them what the people who call the 119 emergency number really ask for.

37 fire departments said some callers wanted to use ambulances for nonemergency purposes in a manner similar to a taxi.  A Kansai fire department said many people called 119 and named a time and date for an ambulance pick up. 

In another familiar refrain, 28 fire departments said some people with minor symptoms, such as a cold, called 119 because they thought they would be treated before other patients if they arrived by ambulance. 

This is leading to another growing abuse where some people who are frustrated with long waits in the ER waiting room are walking out and going to another location and then calling for an emergency ambulance.  One man is quoted as saying, “I waited for one hour and I got irritated. I thought I would have to wait less if I arrived by ambulance.”

The Yomiuri Shimbun has the full STORY.

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