As I read your stories, I'm reminded of a time when I was a participant in someone trying to get a free ride/warm bed from the ambulance and hospital. I live in the states, and coming home one winter night a few years ago a homeless guy in the alley asked me to call an ambulance for him, as he thought he was having a heart attack. As he seemed fairly active and not in distress, not to mention unworried by the fact that I was still a couple minutes walk from home and a phone, I called the non-emergency number, explained the situation to them, and they specifically asked if I thought he was at all intoxicated. A few minutes later the police showed up, followed by an ambulance. In my experience the police don't normally come out, so I sort of wonder if the response here isn't a little different. The ambulance comes if you call, but if they decide you're yanking their chain, you may end up spending the night in the clink instead of the hospital.