Abstract

RIVM has calculated how many ambulances will be needed in the Netherlands in 2020. On working days in the daytime, the number needed is 642, which is 20 more than was calculated last year.

The most important reason for the extra 20 ambulances is that there are more ambulance stations needed. That is because the preconditions of the calculation model have been modified. Due to the modified preconditions, extra ambulances have also been assigned to regions where the workload is very high. A third reason for the increase is that more services was provided in 2019; the calculation model uses the number of services in the preceding year.

The 'National ambulance plan' for the distribution and availability of ambulance care' calculates the number of ambulances needed to provide ambulance care services in the Netherlands. This model is based on a number of preconditions regarding ambulance care in the Netherlands. Examples of this include ambulance response time - in other words the maximum amount of time that may elapse between the receipt of a request for ambulance support and the arrival of an ambulance at the place in question - as well as the distribution of the ambulance stations throughout the country.

The model was modified this year in order to guarantee a level playing field for the 25 Regional Ambulance Facilities in the Netherlands with regard to ambulance distribution and capacity. The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, Ambulance Care Netherlands (AZN), and the Association of Dutch Health Insurers (ZN) have modified the model specifications. The Minister for Medical Care and Sport has approved the new reference framework. The Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) uses the results of the model to determine how the costs of the ambulance care will be covered.