Emergency medicine in the United Kingdom

Emergency medical services in the United Kingdom provide emergency care to

people with acute illness or injury and are predominantly provided free at the point of
use by the four National Health Services (NHS) of England, Scotland, Wales, and
Northern Ireland. Emergency care including ambulance and emergency department
treatment is only free to UK residents and a charge may be made to those not entitled
to free NHS care.

The commissioners in each region are responsible for contracting with a suitable
organisation to provide ambulance services within their geographical territory. The
primary provider for each area is currently held by a public NHS body, of which
there are 11 in England, and one each in the other three countries.

The NHS commissions most emergency medical services through the 14 NHS
organisations with ambulance responsibility across the UK (11 in England, one each
in the other three countries).
As with other emergency services, the public normally access emergency medical
services through one of the valid emergency telephone numbers (either 999 or 112).
In addition to ambulance services provided by NHS organisations, there are also
some private and volunteer emergency medical services arrangements in place in the
UK, the use of private or volunteer ambulances at public events or large private sites,
and as part of community provision of services such as community first responders.

Apart from one service in Scotland, air ambulances in the United Kingdom are not
part of the NHS and are funded through charitable donations, although paramedics
and doctors may be seconded from a local NHS ambulance services and hospitals.