Mr. Ted Kenny:

That is true. It happens daily. We see GPs and members of the public using, or trying to avail of, ambulances for incidents or illnesses that do not necessarily require one. The people concerned, or their relatives, could use their own transport to get to an accident and emergency department. Equally, it could be the case that there may be no need to go to an accident and emergency department at all and treatment might be possible at home.

We are aware of instances where ambulances have been sent out to people with eye infections and broken toenails, and absolutely crazy stuff like that. As I said earlier, there must be a media-driven campaign targeted at GPs and the public to clarify the circumstances in which an ambulance should be called. Ambulances should be called in an emergency.