Court of Audit Praises Reforms in Vienna's Emergency Services

The Court of Audit praises recent reforms in Vienna's emergency services. Of the recommendations included in a 2020 report by the Court of Audit, the majority have been implemented. Specifically, nine out of fourteen suggestions were fully adopted, and five were partially addressed.

Integration of Private Services into the Control System

Particularly positive was the enhanced cooperation between the Vienna Professional Rescue Service and private rescue organizations. The latter were connected to the central dispatch system and committed to adhering to defined quality standards. The goal is a uniform handling of emergency calls and rescue operations.

Improved Demand Planning

The management of operations has also been improved. A target was defined: in 90 percent of cases, the location of the incident should be reached within 14 minutes of receiving the emergency call. Only in exceptional cases, such as in remote suburban areas, are longer response times applicable. The basis for demand planning is the existing rescue locations as well as a dynamic adjustment of personnel and vehicle needs.

More Efficient Vehicle Allocation

The analysis of emergency service demand also led to an optimized selection of deployed vehicles. Emergency medical transport vehicles, intended for lighter medical cases, are now used more frequently. This allows traditional ambulances to be used more specifically.

Control Center System Still in Implementation

The planned establishment of an integrated control center for Vienna has not yet been completed. This was already planned for 2017 but was postponed due to the pandemic. The concept has since been modified: instead of a physical central office, a digitally networked control center system is now being developed. According to the Court of Audit, its full implementation is currently still underway.

(APA/Red)

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