"Seriously though, what kind of idiot calls an ambulance because they have got the shits? In what world is that an 'emergency'? Prats." You've obviously never been alone, ill and feeling too sick to make a clinical judgement - you know, the sort all patients would need to make if you got your system of financial penalities in place to punish anyone unable to come up with consultant-level assessments of their needs. I have been, and while none of the times resulted in an ambulance being called, comments like yours make me see red! Not everyone has a 4x4 in the drive, and several family members around to drive them - and if you can get a cab to take you when you have uncontrollable vomiting & diarrhea, or indeed ANY medical problems, then let me know the cabbie's number!