[stordoff]

> Instead, they were using the ER for non-urgent care.

FWIW, this isn't always a call that person makes - I've had multiple family members advised to attend by the non-emergency service (111) and ended up with a 6-8 hour wait.

You also can face lengthy waits for something that needs treatment soon but isn't immediately life-threatening (grandfather fell and hit his head on a table, requiring stitches - ~4 hour wait for a handover from the ambulance, another 2-3 before he received an MRI and stitches).