Ambulance chiefs have revealed that a person dialled 999 to ask if it was okay to leave eggs in an open box in a fridge overnight.

Bosses at East Midlands Ambulance Services revealed what happened as an example of the inappropriate calls they regularly receive.

In the last six months, EMAS said they also received calls from someone who had found a dead fox and a person who wanted the service to make them breakfast.

An EMAS spokesman said: “We answer more than 2,500 999 calls every day from people requiring emergency medical assistance for cardiac arrests, strokes, breathing difficulties and serious injuries.

“However, some of the 999 calls we receive are not for emergency situations and when one of our call handlers is on the phone to these inappropriate calls, they are not able to help someone in a real emergency.”

(Image: East Midlands Ambulance Service )

Simon Tomlinson, general manager for the EMAS emergency operations centres, urged people to remember that there are other options available, such as calling NHS 111, contacting a GP or a pharmacist or visiting an NHS Walk in Centre.

He said: “When you call 999 because someone is unconscious, not breathing, having chest pains or has the symptoms of a stroke, you are making the right call.

“Our emergency call handlers are trained to deliver life-saving instructions over the phone and we will get help to you as quickly as possible.

“Every 999 call is assessed so that the right help is provided to the right people as quickly as possible.

“You could receive the right treatment for you more quickly by contacting an alternative NHS service, such as your local pharmacy or NHS111, particularly if your call is not a serious emergency.

“Please help us to make sure we can reach the people who need us the most.”

EMAS received 59,349 999 calls in December 2017 – and a small proportion of these were inappropriate calls.

In December, EMAS received 999 calls for 922 patients in cardiac arrest, 6,543 people with breathing difficulties and 1,526 patients experiencing a stroke.

10 inappropriate 999 calls received by EMAS