Health - No further rescue helicopter for Saxony-Anhalt
Despite the expansion of the A14 and a recommendation from experts, the purchase of another rescue helicopter in Saxony-Anhalt is currently not being pushed forward. According to the Ministry of the Interior, an examination of the rescue service situation in the north of the state makes sense and talks have been held on the subject. However, the health insurance companies would have to commission a corresponding report.
In response to an inquiry, the Association of Substitute Health Insurance Funds stated that the distribution of air rescue locations in Saxony-Anhalt was "appropriate and sufficient". The locations in other federal states must also be taken into account. "Anything else would be like looking at an island report, which would be inappropriate for Saxony-Anhalt due to neighboring air rescue locations in neighboring federal states."
At the beginning of April, a report on the future of the hospital landscape was presented in Magdeburg, which had been commissioned by the state government. One of the recommendations was to examine whether an additional helicopter in the north of the state could significantly improve care, "especially for serious and time-critical illnesses".
The experts identified deficits in the areas of cardiology and stroke care. According to the experts, too many patients are being treated in clinics that are not suitable for this, for example because the appropriate equipment is lacking.
There are currently three rescue helicopters available for air rescue in Saxony-Anhalt: One each in Magdeburg and Landsberg for emergencies, plus another helicopter in Landsberg that is also used for transfers. The current air rescue licenses expire at the end of the year. The approval period for the new contract has been shortened from six to three years. The AOK Saxony-Anhalt and the IKK agreed that it should be examined within this period whether the air rescue locations need to be restructured.
The Association of Substitute Health Insurance Funds, which includes Techniker Krankenkasse and Barmer, also pointed out that the north of Saxony-Anhalt is also served by locations in Brandenburg, Perleberg, Uelzen and Wolfenbüttel. 97 to 100 percent of the population would be reached within a maximum of 15 minutes, it said. "In our opinion, that is sufficient."
The SPD parliamentary group nevertheless signaled a need for discussion. "We rely heavily on helicopters from other countries," said Rüdiger Erben, spokesperson for domestic policy. If other states were to reduce the number of rescue helicopters, this could become problematic, according to Erben. This is why the structure in Saxony-Anhalt needs to be scrutinized. "This is also a challenge for the Ministry of the Interior, which is responsible for the rescue service."
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- Despite the Ministry of the Interior's examination of the rescue service situation in Saxony-Anhalt's north, the acquisition of another rescue helicopter is not being prioritized due to the health insurance companies' requirement for a specific report.
- In a report presented in Magdeburg, experts recommended examining whether an additional helicopter in the north could improve care, particularly for time-critical illnesses, due to deficits in cardiology and stroke care.
- The Association of Substitute Health Insurance Funds, which serves parts of Saxony-Anhalt, mentioned that air rescue locations in neighboring federal states, such as Brandenburg and Perleberg, also serve the region, making additional helicopters less necessary.
- With the current three rescue helicopters in Magdeburg and Landsberg, along with another for transfers, the associations agree that the population is adequately covered, with 97-100% reached within 15 minutes.
- Despite this, the SPD parliamentary group signaled the need for discussion, citing potential issues if other states reduced their rescue helicopter numbers and highlighting the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior to scrutinize the situation in Saxony-Anhalt.
- Looking towards the future, the shortened approval period for the new rescue helicopter contract encourages an examination of whether the air rescue locations in Saxony-Anhalt need to be restructured, with a potential impact on the state's hospital landscape and emergency care capabilities.
Source: www.stern.de
