A PARAMEDIC has criticised the parents of a drunk teenager after they told him to get an ambulance home rather than a taxi.

According to the medic, the 18-year-old called 999 on the advice of his parents after arriving at Sheerness station with no way of getting home on Christmas Eve.

When the ambulance crew arrived they discovered the teen alone on the platform unable to stand – more in need of black coffee than medical aid.

The paramedic, who preferred not to be named, said: "We are not a taxi service and it’s ridiculous his parents suggested we attend.

"The lad was so drunk he could not stand but that is no reason to call us.

"We have to attend all incidents but fortunately we were stood down by our central control unit.

"When we were driving there it could have delayed us getting to a real emergency."

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: "The percentage of calls we receive that are truly inappropriate is very low.

"Not every call we receive is life threatening but often a patient has a need and not knowing where else to turn, they call the ambulance service."