An increasing number of non-emergency calls to 119 is straining the system. What are some ways to curb this misuse of the system? For example, should callers be charged for ambulance use?

Support lines for the elderly would help..

Im actually afraid of ever needing an ambulance in Japan, I had a friend in terrible pain, have to sit in the ambulance for 25 mins before moving while they tried to contact hospitals to go to..

Then they drive so conservatively it better not be something critical or time dependent..

NZ2011 is completely right. The ambulance will turn up soon enough, then spend ages working out where to go, then drive the patient at under the speed limit to hospital.

I think that the idea "callers should be charged" would be useful to curb this issue, but I don't think all the callers should be charged. I think people who apparently aren't in an emrgency condition should be done. However there is one problem, who are going to judge that condition?