Well my mum used the buss to get to hospital when she was having me. Quite simply - you have nine months to plan these things - in the early stages of labour it is not inconceivable to get to hospital using taxi/bus/train/friend with a car. I don't mind going to those who's labour has progressed suddenly, or if they are ill. What does rankle is the woamn who is having a vague twinge every half an hour, and is waiting at her doorstep with her bags packed, and I then sit in the back while she doesn't have a single contraction. Perhaps Midwives need to beat mothers over the head with what is a reasonable use of an ambulance - but I'm guessing that most midwives are more happy protecting their own back (the main occupation of the NHS these days). But now I'm rambling... The final proof is that a large number of ambulance trusts refuse 'maternataxis' without hundreds of people dying... The LAS is quite atypical in this regard in that we send to all maternities. It's gotten so that we are considering a scheme where we will *pay* for a voucher for a taxi to take the woman to hospital - so she doesn't miss out on her 'free' ride...