Ally,
Some good points, but if you want guaranteed 8 minute response you need to live in the south-east of England or near an ambulance station. God forbid if you live on the outskirts of a provincial city, or worse still in the countryside, where you might wait 45 minutes.
Top tip of the day: do not have a heart attack in the hills or mountains. If the air ambulance doesn't get to you, you could wait three hours.
It doesn't help if you are a higher rate tax payer either!