Hi "Tom", As someone who has read your blog for a while now I thought I'd add a little to the discussion (apologies to those who might read something very similar on another ambulance blog I read). I share your annoyance at the time wasters , the drunks , the selfish , the unworthy of help who abuse both those that work in the 999 system and those who genuinely need it. I'd just like to remind you and your colleagues why you actually do it. This past Friday evening as a family we were all heading to the family home to celebrate my fathers birthday. Well past retirement age he was looking forward to that rare occurrence - the whole family back home under one roof. Probably happens once a year. My sister and nephew were already with my parents. My brother at home down the road having a couple of drinks after long week on call as an A&E consultant. I was in Brum breaking my journey up from the smoke before meeting up on the Saturday morning. When my parents went to bed they weren't to know that this would be the last birthday for my father. Around midnight he suffered a major CVA - stroke or MI - who cares now. Despite the best efforts of my sister and nephew and the FRU and ambulance crew attending he died that night. The experience , the professionalism , the sheer compassion of the emergency team attending brought so much comfort to my family in the most dreaded of moments. A gentle and respectful remember what you and your colleagues mean to some people next time you have a bad shift......