Model project near Leipzig to relieve the burden on emergency rescue services

To ensure that ambulances are no longer used unnecessarily for non-life-threatening cases in future, the district of Leipzig wants to test three alternative emergency vehicles. A pilot project was approved from the beginning of February, as announced by the Saxony State Directorate.

The so-called special ambulances, which will be stationed in Wurzen, Grimma and Borna, are similarly equipped to ambulances. However, they are manned exclusively by two experienced paramedics - without emergency paramedics. They are intended to be available for missions where no life-saving measures are required. The integrated regional control center will decide on a case-by-case basis whether an emergency rescue operation is required or whether the patient can be treated by a special ambulance instead.

The pilot project is intended to relieve the burden on emergency rescue services and make medical care more flexible. In future, ambulances are to be deployed in a more targeted manner and not be tied up for non-life-threatening cases.

Existing ambulances are used

"More and more frequently, medical care cases are incorrectly classified as emergencies," said Béla Bélafi, President of the Saxony Regional Directorate. This could lead to a lack of rescue resources for life-threatening missions. The Leipzig district project is an important first step in countering this development with targeted and innovative measures. According to the project, less than 40 percent of all emergency rescue missions in the district of Leipzig meet the legal requirements for an emergency rescue every year.

According to the information provided, existing ambulances will be used for the project and no additional costs will be incurred. The project will run until the end of 2026 and will be supported by a working group.