 Operating separately from (although alongside) the fire and police services of the area, these ambulances are funded by local, provincial or national governments.In some countries, these only tend to be found in big cities, whereas in countries such as the United Kingdom, almost all emergency ambulances are part of a national health system.In the United States, ambulance services provided by a local government are often referred to as "third service" EMS (the fire department, police department, and separate EMS forming an emergency services trio) by the employees of said service, as well as other city officials and residents.