Lauterbach’s clinic reform: – “After sunset the helicopter has to stay on the ground” | EUROtoday

EA minute can play a vital position in the usage of rescue helicopters. “At daytime air rescue stations, the rescue helicopter is allowed to take off one minute before sunset and must remain on the ground one minute later,” says a spokesman for the non-profit ADAC air rescue.

Even within the occasion of a critical accident, the helicopter with the emergency physician on board will not be allowed to take off. The regulation is the regulation. Each federal state regulates in another way whether or not and till when it’s allowed to fly at nightfall and at night time.

But the restrictions on night time and twilight flights are more and more changing into the main target of well being coverage. In view of the growing variety of clinic closures, associations and politicians from a number of events are calling for an enlargement of night time flights as a way to guarantee affected person care at once sooner or later.

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Marco Ok. König, first chairman of the German Professional Association of Emergency Services (DBRD), is skeptical as as to whether hospitals will proceed to be accessible inside half-hour by automobile sooner or later – as envisaged within the earlier draft of the hospital reform by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD).

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“In view of the thinning of clinics in rural areas, the interval of 30 minutes will only be possible in the future through increased use of air rescue,” says König.

In precept, the top of the affiliation sees this in Germany as being very effectively positioned. She might fly extra missions, he says. However, this doesn’t apply to nighttime flights. These can be topic to a lot stricter laws. “Air rescue is currently not equipped for additional night operations,” mentioned König.

Citizens mobilize in opposition to night time flight stations

Krystian Pracz, CEO of DRF Luftrettung, additionally sees deficits in night time flights. “Currently, of 83 air rescue stations in Germany, only 16 stations are designed for night flights. There is also a serious east-west divide here, as there are currently hardly any options for night flights in the west,” says Pracz.

In view of the looming thinning of clinics, he advocates an enlargement of air rescue at night time and at nightfall. “Twilight flights should be allowed in all federal states,” mentioned Pracz.

From a technical viewpoint, DRF Luftrettung, but additionally the opposite air rescue organizations, would be capable to perform extra night time flights. However, Pracz sees issues within the permits which can be normally issued by the inside ministries of the federal states.

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“Permits for night flights are very difficult to obtain because many citizens feel disturbed by the noise of the helicopters. In recent years in particular, we have seen that citizens are increasingly mobilizing against planned night flight stations,” says Pracz.

At the identical time, he guarantees to work with the inhabitants to search out options to the noise. “The helicopter doesn’t always have to return to the base station, but could, for example – if possible – remain on the landing site of a clinic between two missions. This reduces flight movements at the base station and overall. But the fact is that such rescue flights cause noise,” says Pracz.

Transfer to specialist suppliers

An enlargement of air rescue is now being known as for by each authorities and opposition events. Janosch Dahmen, well being coverage spokesman for the Green Party, sees air rescue as an “important component” in making certain emergency medical care in rural areas, which might “increase in importance” with a view to the switch of sufferers from fundamental care clinics near dwelling to specialist suppliers.

“In addition to legal adjustments to enable instrument flight procedures for rescue helicopters in bad weather conditions, the number of air rescue equipment available in the dark must also be increased across the board,” calls for Dahmen. In addition, there’s a want for a complete enlargement and modernization of touchdown websites at hospitals.

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Andrew Ullmann, well being coverage spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, additionally requires the enlargement of air rescue.

“The hospital reform offers the states the opportunity to design emergency care in such a way that every emergency is treated quickly and adequately. This also explicitly includes the expansion of air rescue, because even today the closest clinic is not always the best clinic,” says Ullmann.

According to Tino Sorge, well being coverage spokesman for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, air rescue might “support emergency care much more in the future, especially in remote areas.” In this fashion, air rescue might shut gaps in care in lots of areas that may come up from the modified hospital panorama.

Sorge has no understanding of the restrictions on night time flights. “When it comes to emergencies, there should be no consideration for night flight bans. Nobody would come up with the idea of ​​penalizing emergency ambulances for exceeding speed limits or even banning them from driving at night,” says Sorge.

In view of the requires an enlargement of air rescue, the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) has introduced that it’s engaged on an emergency service reform. At the identical time, the BMG factors out that the group of the rescue service is a matter for the states. The BMG can’t present any reform particulars right now.