In order to get the overload of the rescue service at the Berlin fire brigade under control, ambulances should no longer be sent to lighter cases.
According to the Berlin Police Union (GdP), a number of emergency call codes were adjusted on Monday so that more calls can be sent to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. This has long been demanded by employees, staff councils and trade unions.
Most recently, Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) increased the pressure on the fire department management and set up a steering group to quickly develop suggestions for improvement.
According to a report by the “B.Z.”, the employees of the control center have been informed in an internal message about so-called code adjustments.
The codes are part of a standardized computer system that is queried for 112 emergency calls. It asks the employees standardized key questions, on the basis of which emergency services are then dispatched. However, this also led to many deployments in minor cases. This caused criticism, because the rescue service is almost always in a state of emergency – and sometimes there were no more free rescue vehicles (RTW). [If you want to have all the latest news live on your cell phone, we recommend our app, which you can find here for Apple and Android devices.]
From now on, cases such as an allergic reaction without breathing difficulties, minor burns or harmless bleeding after trauma should be taken over by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, writes the “B.Z.”. There was no immediate comment from the fire service.