If you want reach a hospital as fast as possible,
get in your car and drive.
Paramedics are slower. They’re essential if a
problem might be life-threatening or requires special handling such as a fracture. They sometimes transport even if their expertise isn’t required, but
it’s not guaranteed. If you have a bellyache or high fever, they might leave and
tell you to take a cab.
Phoned in the middle of the night, some hotel
doctors determine that everyone requires paramedics. With no office job I don’t
mind getting out of bed and do so regularly, but if the guest sounds like a
genuine emergency, I have difficulty persuading the hotel that it has an urgent
problem.
“I just talked to a guest, Mr. Elwood, in 435.
He’s confused and can’t get out of bed. He needs paramedics.”
“I’ll send a bellman up right away.”
“No, you have to call the paramedics.”
“I’ll call Security. They’ll send someone to the
room.”
“You have to call the paramedics.”
“Maybe you should talk to the manager on duty.”
At any hour, the noisy arrival of the ambulance
followed by a train of fire engines disturbs everyone, so convincing a hotel to
make the call often takes an effort.