Aren't they able to charge you if they don't think it was a genuine call out? I'm sure we got charged when we called an ambulance to come and pick up a heavy relative who hurt their back and we couldn't move them.
Regardless of what kind of day they are having it's no excuse. Those kind of comments are no attitude to put out to the general public when you are supposed to be seen as being a medical helper you can count on. Yes you could have taken him to A and E but you made a snap decision not to based on the situation, they weren't there to ask the right questions when you made that decision.
Make a complaint. Better still, get Ira to write the complaint haha