Good Morning Britain viewers were left raging on Wednesday morning over what they called 'disgusting' comments from TV Dr Hilary Jones, during a discussion about how newly elected Prime Minister Liz Truss vowed to make the NHS an "early priority".
He joined Susanna Reid and Ed Balls and called on the PM to revisit the pay award for junior doctors and ensure more doctors are recruited and retained to address the crisis.
Susanna admitted she was "afraid to call an ambulance" as she read out a series of harrowing stories from viewers who have been impacted by delays.
The broadcaster was taken aback when Dr Hilary suggested people are "abusing" the service. He said: "People who have got cars outside their house and could take that patient to hospital themselves but call an ambulance instead."
Susanna shot back: "If you're calling an ambulance that's because you want a paramedic team who are going to treat a patient in your home. You might be afraid of moving that person."
Dr Hilary insisted anyone concerned about this should phone the 111 service for guidance - and a frontline NHS worker named Andy later contacted the show to echo Dr Hilary's thoughts and invited anyone to join on a 10-hour shift to see "how the service is abused by people who are calling 999."
However, viewers following the show on Twitter hit out the medical expert's comments.
Sandra said: "Had to turn off #GMB this morning. @DrHilaryJones actually said, people calling ambulances who have cars sitting outside their homes are abusing the system. What planet is this man on. Thank God he's just a TV doctor."
Dave posted: "Disgusting comments by “Dr” Hilary."
Sian commented: "Dr Hilary saying calling an ambulance if you’ve got a car outside is abuse of the NHS?????? Get him off."
Scott posted: "So Hilary if you have a car but call an ambulance it's an abuse of the service?"
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