999..not quick enough?

**random-lemons** · November 19th '05

This morning, i was in a car with my mate and her dad and suddenly my mate started having a fit. It was really scary and her fit was getting worse and hard to control. Both her dad and me called 999 and asked for an ambulance. The operator was helpful but all of the ambulance phonelines were full. We were both on the phone for nearly over 5mins, which by this time my mates fit had become very out of control.
After waiting on the phone we had to make the desicion to take her to hospital because neither of us could get through to an ambulance.
Has anyone else had a simliar experience with any 999 services? Because i know they are under demand but we did wait a long time and never did get through to an ambulance.

**xxrachxx** · November 19th '05

that is really sad!
and the ambulance service should be alot better!!
hope your mates ok !!
and no i havent had an experience like that before.
sorry you had to experience it x

**random-lemons** · November 19th '05

Thanks Rach

Yeh my mates alright now, she got to hospital ok.

**Mamfy** · November 19th '05

Thank goodness! That's really terrible that you didn't get through to them:S

**Sponge'K'nob** · November 19th '05

Thats awful! Glad she got to a hospital in time.
Some cases it could mean life or death.
They need to get their system sorted out.

**Bob!** · November 19th '05

Exactly why when they say to people "Don't Hoax", They mean it.

***Jess*** · November 19th '05

Many of the calls would be hoax's or not emergencies. its rediculous.
And they really need to speed up the system. Its vital.

**IceBurn3000** · November 20th '05

In many parts of the world, you can get a pizza delivered faster than an ambulance arriving for an emergency.

**Stephanie** · April 2nd '06

I've never had any problems with emergency services but then again I've only ever had to call them once and that wasn't even really an emergency.

However I have seen a kid in my class have a fit before. It was actually really traumatic for me. I couldn't stop shaking for the whole day and I had nightmares about it for months and every time I closed my eyes I would see that kid fitting over and over again with his eye lids flickering and foam coming out of his mouth. I would freak out whenever I saw someone just shake a little bit because I was scared that they'd fit..my brothers and cousins used to always pretend to fit to scare me and I totally freaked out and cried because of it. Has this experienced effected you in this way at all?

I'm really glad you're friend is alright.