This petition was submitted during the 2017 to 2019 Parliament
Rejected petition Make the ambulance service an emergency service
Rejected on
How many of the general public realise that our ambulance service is NOT classed an emergency service by our Government but as an essential service.
They save lives; they put their lives on the line; they work shifts;
But they are an essential service NOT an emergency one. Why not?
The ambulance service is contacted via 999.
Just like the police and fire service.
Yet the ambulance service is classed as an essential service NOT an emergency one.
The crews save lives in all types of conditions. They work 12-hour shifts many times without a break.
They earn far less than their counterparts in the police and fire service yet they probably help deal with the same situations.
They have to work until they are 66 to get a pension . Fire or police personnel get theirs years earlier
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s not clear what the petition is asking the UK Government or Parliament to do.
We can't accept your petition because we aren't sure what action you would like the UK Government or Parliament to take.
There aren't classifications of "essential" or "emergency" services which decide how a service is funded or staff's terms and conditions of service.
You could start a new petition asking the Government to allow ambulance service staff to retire at the same age as police or fire crews if that is something you would like to see happen.
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.