Dialling 999 could land you Asbo

The plan comes as paramedics and hospitals in England experience a 30 per cent surge in demand, as a flu epidemic and the outbreak of the ultra-infectious norovirus vomiting bug take hold in the coldest winter since 1976. [>

Now Cleveland Police and the North East Ambulance Service have launched a joint initiative, threatening time-wasters with fines and even Anti-Social Behaviour Orders. [>

Other ambulance trusts are thought to be studying the move closely, with a view to adopting it themselves. [>

Although it is a civil offence, ­people who are awarded more than one Asbo can find themselves prosecuted in a criminal court. [>

The North East Ambulance Service is experiencing a 17 per cent surge in demand over this time last year and unnecessary calls continue to divert valuable resources.  [>

One man dialed 999 because the smell of his feet were making him nauseous, and a woman wanted an ambulance to collect prescription glasses for her son. In London, one paramedic told of a man who dialed 999 after getting a paper cut. [>

“We turned up and he had three tea towels wrapped around his hand,” said the paramedic, who did not wish to give his name. “When we took them off, we couldn’t see anything. I have never seen such a ­flagrant waste of our time in all the years I’ve been doing this job. [>

“I asked him whether he had family or loved ones in the area and how he would feel if one of them was experiencing a heart attack while we were there dealing with him.” [>

The move follows claims by Peter Bradley, the national director of ­ambulance services, who said the system was struggling to cope. [>

“It is absolutely horrendous. Hospitals are full and A&E departments are struggling,” he said. “The public need to do their best to avoid using A&E and ambulance services ­unless it is a genuine emergency.” [>

Last night, the British Medical Association blamed the lack of hospital beds on a system which sees hospitals persistently running at ­almost 100 per cent capacity.  [>

“We all know that, whenever there is a cold snap, there is an increase in patients suffering with flu, chronic bronchitis and cardiac problems. [>

Trusts just do not have the capacity to cope,” said Dr John Fielden, chairman of the British Medical ­Association’s consultant committee. [>

“Many trusts have been running on black alert, which is worst than red. In the North-west, hospitals were unable to follow the normal procedure of transferring patients when they are full because there was nowhere to transfer them to. [>

“This is about a policy which sees hospitals operate with a latent error, often, running to 95 or even 100 per cent ­capacity. [>

“When capacity is so full, wards cannot be closed down for cleaning, which only worsens the problem and it’s a false economy because the pressure for beds sees patients ­often discharged too early, only for them to have to return again at a greater cost.”  [>

Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: “I’m not sure that threatening people with Asbos is the right ­approach; this is a matter for education, not punishment. [>

“We are experiencing high fall-out from the combination of flu and norovirus; many GPs have come down with it also, which is not surprising. [>

“The best thing to do is to stay home and drink plenty of fluids. If you are worried, phone NHS ­Direct, who are very good at handling this type of thing. [>

“If you are at work remember that the norovirus can remain outside the body for 24 hours, so hygiene is key. [>

“Make sure you always wash your hands.” [>

Last night, Cleveland Police and the North East Ambulance Service said: “We will prosecute people who abuse our services. [>

“We can issue Fixed Penalty ­Notices (£80) for wasting police time and/or nuisance calls. [>

“We will also be working with the Local Authority to obtain Anti-Social Behaviour ­Orders on persistent offenders.” [>