View Full Version : Pensioner jailed for 999 calls
monkeyboy
08-07-2009, 08:37 PM
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5778297/Pensioner-jailed-for-999-calls-over-sore-throat.html
Pensioner jailed for 999 calls over sore throat
An elderly man who repeatedly called out an ambulance complaining of a sore throat has been jailed for six months.
Published: 2:06PM BST 08 Jul 2009
Ambulance: Pensioner jailed for 999 calls over sore throat
Ambulance: On one occasion he even dialled emergency services and demanded paramedics come immediately - when one was already in his house. Photo: GETTY
Walter Emms, 76, dialled 999 a total of 42 times asking for the emergency vehicle to be sent to his home when he did not need one.
On one occasion he even dialled emergency services and demanded paramedics come immediately - when one was already in his house.
Prosecutor Matt Capes told a court that Mr Emms had made a total of 42 calls since March and on all occasions the ambulance was sent out.
"On April 1 he dialled 999 and told the operator he had a sore throat," said Mr Capes.
"The paramedic told him there was nothing wrong with him and he wouldn't be taken to hospital.
"She looked around and when she walked back into the room she saw him calling the ambulance again."
David Castle, defending, said: "It's not done through malice. The 999 operator is his best friend when he's drunk."
Emms, from Frimley, Surrey, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing a public nuisance at Woking Magistrates' Court and was jailed for four months.
He was given an additional two months for breaching a suspended sentence for persistently making use of the communication network to make a nuisance.
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WTF is this world coming to, is common sense dead? A lonley old man and the best they can come up with is to jail him for four months, it`s fucking disgracefull the way we treat our elderly and it`s just getting worse :mad:
whitenight639
08-07-2009, 10:20 PM
42 times is ridiuclous tho, imagine how many people could have been in real need of the emergency services?
but surely the court could have order he be put in a home, have a health worker or someone visit so he's got someone to talk to now n then, or had phone disconnected?
jammasterj13
08-07-2009, 10:26 PM
Sounds like a bit of a madhead.
But jailing the old chap is just PC madness.
Surely somebody could have used there noggins and realised he's not a full shilling due to old age and just sent him on a two week holiday to the caribbean or somewhere else. It would have been far cheaper.
I really do despair the way this country has gone down the pan so quickly.
size_of_light
08-07-2009, 10:37 PM
You should have seen his eyes light up after they arrested him, when they told him he had the right to make one phone call...
Agree. He shouldn't have made 42 calls over this simple issue which could be sorted out without them.
monkeyboy
08-07-2009, 11:22 PM
42 times is ridiuclous tho, imagine how many people could have been in real need of the emergency services?
but surely the court could have order he be put in a home, have a health worker or someone visit so he's got someone to talk to now n then, or had phone disconnected?
42 times in 5 month thats about a call every three and a half days and if they know his history they could determine whether to send an ambulance by what he says on the phone. it`s their rule to send one out on every call. so why should he be held responsible for their policy. also have his phone dissconnected he is 76 it`s a life line you should get a phone and line free when you retire as far as i am concerned. do you work for the nhs by any chance?
monkeyboy
08-07-2009, 11:26 PM
Agree. He shouldn't have made 42 calls over this simple issue which could be sorted out without them.
Have you tried making a doctors appiontment latley?
whitenight639
08-07-2009, 11:59 PM
42 times in 5 month thats about a call every three and a half days and if they know his history they could determine whether to send an ambulance by what he says on the phone. it`s their rule to send one out on every call. so why should he be held responsible for their policy. also have his phone dissconnected he is 76 it`s a life line you should get a phone and line free when you retire as far as i am concerned. do you work for the nhs by any chance?
no i dnt wrk for the fking NHS, i have however applied to join the fire service. So are you saying they shouldnt send out an ambulance to every call??
Have you tried making a doctors appiontment latley?
They aren't to bad around here actually, as most people seem to be able to make an appointment within 1-2 days max.
monkeyboy
09-07-2009, 12:14 AM
no i dnt wrk for the fking NHS, i have however applied to join the fire service. So are you saying they shouldnt send out an ambulance to every call??
ok calm down it was only a queston :p. yes i am saying they shouldn`t send out an ambulance in every case as i said in my reply they know his history they are talking to him on the phone if they had even the slightest concern that it was something that may require an ambulance then yes send one. if on the other hand he is ringing all the time complaining of a sore throat and they have asked him all the vital questions ie difficulty in breathing etc i have only done basic first aid and i would be happy to tell him he did not require an ambulance and to go to the doctors or pharmacist. as i said is common sense dead ?
dangermouse
09-07-2009, 12:16 AM
You should have seen his eyes light up after they arrested him, when they told him he had the right to make one phone call...
did he dial 999? :D
monkeyboy
09-07-2009, 12:19 AM
They aren't to bad around here actually, as most people seem to be able to make an appointment within 1-2 days max.
well if your 76 that could feel like a lifetime i imagine and round here your lucky even to get through on the phone and you can only ring between 8 and 9 in the morning, if you do get through your lucky to get an appiontment within a week. :(
whitenight639
09-07-2009, 12:27 AM
ok calm down it was only a queston :p. yes i am saying they shouldn`t send out an ambulance in every case as i said in my reply they know his history they are talking to him on the phone if they had even the slightest concern that it was something that may require an ambulance then yes send one. if on the other hand he is ringing all the time complaining of a sore throat and they have asked him all the vital questions ie difficulty in breathing etc i have only done basic first aid and i would be happy to tell him he did not require an ambulance and to go to the doctors or pharmacist. as i said is common sense dead ?
im chilled, just the word NHS reminds me of that hospital smell and stories of grossly incompetent doctors.
I think everybody should get an ambulance everytime, as not sending one because of a past history could lead down a very bad road, could end up not getting an ambulance because you didnt pay your income tax etc.
monkeyboy
09-07-2009, 12:52 AM
im chilled, just the word NHS reminds me of that hospital smell and stories of grossly incompetent doctors.
I think everybody should get an ambulance everytime, as not sending one because of a past history could lead down a very bad road, could end up not getting an ambulance because you didnt pay your income tax etc.
i agree it should not just go on past history or income tax? as i explained before, but the person at the end of the phone should have medical training or background as some cases may require instant treatment before an ambulance could reach them so they would have to advise on interim treatment. so why could they not use their initiative here.