Specialist health service, ambulance service, 2001

Norwegian ambulances were used more in 2001 than in 2000. Average ambulance calls per 1 000 inhabitants were 96 in 2001. The corresponding figure for 2000 was 92. The increase can be seen in all counties, except Hordaland and Østfold.

Ambulances in Sogn og Fjordane, Oppland, Troms and Finnmark drove an average of more than 100 kilometers per call. On the other hand the average distance per call was 20 kilometers in Oslo. Geographic factors explain these differences. Average distance per call has been about 60 kilometers for the country as a total the last years.

KOSTRA-figures are available (in Norwegian) at http://www.ssb.no/kostra/ . Under the heading 'Tall for fylkeskommuner' choose 'Detaljerte nøkkeltall' (Nivå 2), then choose the area F. Ambulansetjenesten from the combobox at the top of the page. From this page you can also choose 'Utvalgte nøkkeltall' (Nivå 1) and 'Grunnlagsdata og detaljerte data for egne sammenstillinger' (Nivå 3).

Tables:

• Table 1 Ambulances operating 24 hours and less than 24 hours, supplementary ambulances and ambulance boats, by county. 2001
• Table 2 Number of ambulances, operating hours, assignments and kilometres driven. In total and per inhabitant, by county. 2001
• Table 3 Number of assignments per 1 000 inhabitants, by county. 1994-2001