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Criticism of the rescue service in Hesse: Patient safety is at risk!
On July 8, 2025, the new emergency service plan will be presented in Hesse to improve patient care and safety.
Criticism of the rescue service in Hesse: Patient safety is at risk!
In a current discussion about the future of the emergency service in Hesse, a worrying picture emerges. The recently published test report highlights that Patient safety at risk is. Serious problems arise from different standards of care and unnecessary communication channels. Ambulances often have to deal with missions that are not medically necessary, meaning they are available late or not at all in real emergencies.
What is particularly noteworthy is that delays in alerting emergency services are increasing, partly due to regional responsibilities. The Data were compiled in a comprehensive survey by the state representative of the Association of Substitute Insurance Funds from all 25 control centers in Hesse, and the associations are now calling for concrete measures to improve.
New emergency service plan on the table
The minister emphasizes that sustainable structures for emergency care and the working conditions of rescue workers must be decisively improved. In particular, the increasing need for skilled workers and the increasing number of deployments represent a challenge that cannot be ignored. In the future, special emergency ambulances (N-KTW) will also be used to relieve the burden on regular ambulances.
Static numbers and challenges
Looking at the current figures, it can be said that the pressure on the emergency services is constantly growing. In 2023 there was a total of 6,405,222 emergency medical missions, which represents an increase of almost 22 percent compared to 2013. Unfortunately, only 10 to 15 percent of these missions can be considered truly necessary because there is a lack of a binding definition for medically necessary emergency calls.
It is also exciting that around 89,000 people work in the emergency services, which is almost 68 percent more than a decade ago. The emergency clinics are particularly overloaded on weekdays, which is not insignificant due to the consulting hours of the contracted doctors. Often it is not even serious emergencies that are treated here, but rather cases that are not adequately covered by statutory health care.
Overall, it is clear that the emergency services in Hesse and throughout Germany are facing major challenges. The acute issues surrounding emergency care and staffing require immediate and thoughtful solutions to ensure patient safety in every situation. The reform debates, in which the rescue service plays an essential role, are beneficial for the future of this important service.