Paramedics in the state of New South Wales complain of an increase in calls on the emergency phone line for minor ailments or even prank calls regarding broken fingernails or a pizza request, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

In response, the New South Wales Ambulance Service and the state government are launching a radio campaign this week to address the abuse.

'Ambulance paramedics are there to provide an emergency service for people needing urgent attention,' NSW Health Minister John Della Bosca told the newspaper.

Approximately one in 45 calls to the New South Wales Ambulance Service are for non-emergencies, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The service receives about 1 million calls a year.

The newspaper said paramedics are reporting an increase instances of callers faking emergencies so they can be taken to the hospital, only to then skip off the shopping mall after the free ride.

'It's not unusual for people who have had their phones cut off to ring us when they want a pizza because you can always dial triple-0,' he said, referring to the emergency number. 'They just see us as a service and feel entitled to call.'

One caller was too tired to pick up a pillow that had fallen from his bed, another wanted help getting to sleep, while a third called about a broken fingernail, the newspaper said.

Relevant officials at the New South Wales Ambulance Service could not be reached for comment on Sunday. -- AP