Specialist health service, ambulance service, 2002

The use of the ambulance service is steadily increasing. In 2000 average ambulance calls per 1 000 inhabitants were 92, in 2001 it was 96 and in 2002 the number was 101. Helseregion Nord had an average of 132 calls. The differences among the four other regions are insignificant.

The number of operating ambulances increased from 2001 to 2002. Operating ambulances are both ambulances operating 24 hours and ambulances operating less than 24 hours. The number of ambulances operating 24 hours decreased from 422 in 2001 to 416 in 2002. Ambulances operating less than 24 hours had an increase from 105 in 2001 to 131 in 2002. This increase has especially taken place in Helseregion Nord, but also in Helseregion Øst.

From 2002 the responsibility for the specialist health service and the ownership of the hospitals, were transferred from the counties to the central government, and five independent health regions were established. The regional enterprises will be responsible for the ambulance service, which means that from 2002 on, all tables will be presented based on the regional dimension and not the county dimension. In addition more detailed figures can be found in the StatBank.

Tables:

• Table 1 Ambulances operating 24 hours and less than 24 hours, supplementary ambulances and ambulance boats, by regional health enterprise. 2002
• Table 2 Number of ambulances, operating hours, assignments and kilometres driven. In total and per inhabitant, by regional health enterprise. 2002
• Table 3 Number of assignments per 1 000 inhabitants, by regional health enterprise. 1999-2002