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Texas fire department’s ambulances make choosy patients wait

Under a new policy, most patients will be taken to the nearest hospital, but victims with minor injuries must wait for a second ambulance if they prefer a different hospital

By Daniel Novick
KFOX

EL PASO, Texas — The El Paso Fire Department has made some changes to their ambulance policies that in some cases could affect which hospital you get taken to and how long it takes to get there.

Right now, the fire department’s ambulance policy is simple: No matter what the emergency is, if you want to be taken to a hospital, the ambulance that responds will take you to the hospital of your choice.

But if your injury or emergency is not that bad, starting on Monday you will be treated and then the ambulance will take you to the nearest hospital. But if you want to go somewhere else, you have to wait for a second ambulance to pick you up.

Full story: That second ambulance will either be an El Paso Fire Department transport unit or a private ambulance company