Emergency services under pressure: Why aid deadlines are in danger!

Emergency services under pressure: Why aid deadlines are in danger!

On Sunday, June 22nd, there was a swimming accident in Laboe, where a woman suffered a circulatory collapse in the water. Thanks to the quick response of helpers who pulled her out of the water and provided first aid, her life was probably saved. However, this critical situation highlights the difficulties faced by emergency services, who often have to contend with long journey times. Kai-Thorsten Bräsch, one of the helpers, was critical of the emergency services' lack of punctuality because the legally stipulated time limit of twelve minutes for help is often not adhered to. According to kn-online.de, the compliance rate in the Plön district was 84.03 percent last year, while the benchmark for Schleswig-Holstein is 90 percent.

But it's not just the Plön district that shows deficits. The situation in the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district is also anything but optimal. A compliance rate of just 77.51 percent was recorded here in 2024. In comparison, the state capital Kiel has reliably met these requirements for years, with 95.2 percent of on-time deployments. The shortage of skilled workers is just one reason for the inadequate adherence to the aid deadlines. As early as 2020, it was determined that the Plön district needed 25 percent more rescue equipment to ensure safety and timely deployment.

Challenges and solutions

The structural situation of the rescue stations in Lütjenburg and Plön also ensures longer response times. These circumstances are exacerbated by demographic change and the increasing specialization of clinics, which results in longer journeys for emergency services. In order to improve the current situation, long-term solutions are required. One approach could be to introduce a uniform description of the aid goals between the federal states in order to increase efficiency.

Another step in the right direction is the implementation of digital alarm systems and the reinforcement of staff in Probsteierhagen. New rescue station locations were also put into operation in the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district in order to increase the availability of rescue equipment.

The look into the future

It will be exciting to see how emergency care will develop in the coming years. According to a forecast by the RKiSH (Duchy of Lauenburg District Rescue Service), not all callers to the emergency number 112 are in acute danger to their lives or are at risk of imminent health damage. More and more people in subjective emergencies are seeking help. For this reason, differentiated emergency care (DNV) is sought to ensure that those seeking help are provided the right support at the right time and in the right place. The DNV should be supplemented by adjustments and measures for the needs-based use of resources so that, for example, less urgent concerns can be referred to appropriate outpatient structures.

In addition, teleemergency medicine is considered an important component of DNV. The goal here is to avoid unnecessary hospital stays and emergency services transport and to optimize health care.

In view of these challenges, it is time for the various actors from politics, emergency services and healthcare to work together on solutions. Because one thing is certain: functioning emergency care is not a luxury, but a basic requirement for the security of our society.

The Björn Steiger Foundation, in collaboration with the Bertelsmann Foundation, commissioned a comprehensive study to analyze the status quo in the German healthcare system. Deficits in emergency care were highlighted and possible reform approaches were discussed. Further information can be found in the Steiger Foundation.