Pre-hospital emergency extended until April with 50 more ambulances at the fire department

The pre-hospital emergency system to respond to the increase in demand for emergencies in winter will continue until the end of April with 50 ambulances instead of the current 100, the Firefighters League revealed today.

The Special Pre-Hospital Emergency Device (DEEPH), which came into operation on December 1, 2024 and ended on February 28, established the creation of 100 pre-hospital emergency teams in fire departments “to ensure the response to the foreseeable increase in emergencies related to influenza and other respiratory viruses”.

The president of the Portuguese Firefighters League (LBP), António Nunes, told Lusa today that the pre-hospital emergency system will continue until the end of April, with around 50 additional ambulances now being available to firefighters instead of the current 100.

“DEEPH was agreed between LBP and the National Institute of Medical Emergencies (INEM) to reinforce the response of firefighters during the flu season. It has now been established that, given the number of interventions carried out, it makes perfect sense to continue this device with, for now, at least 50 ambulances for another two months,” he explained.

António Nunes said that, if necessary, there could be “a specific reinforcement in some urban areas”, with the number of pre-hospital emergency teams reaching 60.

According to the president of the League, the continuity of DEEPH is related to the transfers of patients between hospitals, the closure of some emergency services and waiting times for stretchers in health units, in addition to cases of flu.

Within the scope of the Special Pre-Hospital Emergency Device, the 100 teams carried out around 30 thousand services between December 1, 2024 and February 15, according to the LBP.

António Nunes also said that this reinforcement of around 50 ambulances takes place mainly in urban areas.

This device was created by an order from the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins.

Published on November 19, 2024, the diploma established that the teams are composed of two firefighters and aim to reinforce “the response capacity in pre-hospital emergencies and secondary transport of patients in urgent, very urgent or emergency inter-hospital transfers”.

INEM transfers to the firefighter associations that are part of the system the daily amount of 247.04 euros for each team, to cover the costs of their creation and operation 24 hours a day.

In addition to the INEM ambulances that are available at the fire departments, there is now also this additional reinforcement in response capacity through this pre-hospital emergency device.

The pre-hospital emergency system to respond to the increase in demand for emergencies in winter will continue until the end of April with 50 ambulances instead of the current 100, the Firefighters League revealed today.

The Special Pre-Hospital Emergency Device (DEEPH), which came into operation on December 1, 2024 and ended on February 28, established the creation of 100 pre-hospital emergency teams in fire departments “to ensure the response to the foreseeable increase in emergencies related to influenza and other respiratory viruses”.

The president of the Portuguese Firefighters League (LBP), António Nunes, told Lusa today that the pre-hospital emergency system will continue until the end of April, with around 50 additional ambulances now being available to firefighters instead of the current 100.

“DEEPH was agreed between LBP and the National Institute of Medical Emergencies (INEM) to reinforce the response of firefighters during the flu season. It has now been established that, given the number of interventions carried out, it makes perfect sense to continue this device with, for now, at least 50 ambulances for another two months,” he explained.

António Nunes said that, if necessary, there could be “a specific reinforcement in some urban areas”, with the number of pre-hospital emergency teams reaching 60.

According to the president of the League, the continuity of DEEPH is related to the transfers of patients between hospitals, the closure of some emergency services and waiting times for stretchers in health units, in addition to cases of flu.

Within the scope of the Special Pre-Hospital Emergency Device, the 100 teams carried out around 30 thousand services between December 1, 2024 and February 15, according to the LBP.

António Nunes also said that this reinforcement of around 50 ambulances takes place mainly in urban areas.

This device was created by an order from the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins.

Published on November 19, 2024, the diploma established that the teams are composed of two firefighters and aim to reinforce “the response capacity in pre-hospital emergencies and secondary transport of patients in urgent, very urgent or emergency inter-hospital transfers”.

INEM transfers to the firefighter associations that are part of the system the daily amount of 247.04 euros for each team, to cover the costs of their creation and operation 24 hours a day.

In addition to the INEM ambulances that are available at the fire departments, there is now also this additional reinforcement in response capacity through this pre-hospital emergency device.

The pre-hospital emergency system to respond to the increase in demand for emergencies in winter will continue until the end of April with 50 ambulances instead of the current 100, the Firefighters League revealed today.

The Special Pre-Hospital Emergency Device (DEEPH), which came into operation on December 1, 2024 and ended on February 28, established the creation of 100 pre-hospital emergency teams in fire departments “to ensure the response to the foreseeable increase in emergencies related to influenza and other respiratory viruses”.

The president of the Portuguese Firefighters League (LBP), António Nunes, told Lusa today that the pre-hospital emergency system will continue until the end of April, with around 50 additional ambulances now being available to firefighters instead of the current 100.

“DEEPH was agreed between LBP and the National Institute of Medical Emergencies (INEM) to reinforce the response of firefighters during the flu season. It has now been established that, given the number of interventions carried out, it makes perfect sense to continue this device with, for now, at least 50 ambulances for another two months,” he explained.

António Nunes said that, if necessary, there could be “a specific reinforcement in some urban areas”, with the number of pre-hospital emergency teams reaching 60.

According to the president of the League, the continuity of DEEPH is related to the transfers of patients between hospitals, the closure of some emergency services and waiting times for stretchers in health units, in addition to cases of flu.

Within the scope of the Special Pre-Hospital Emergency Device, the 100 teams carried out around 30 thousand services between December 1, 2024 and February 15, according to the LBP.

António Nunes also said that this reinforcement of around 50 ambulances takes place mainly in urban areas.

This device was created by an order from the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins.

Published on November 19, 2024, the diploma established that the teams are composed of two firefighters and aim to reinforce “the response capacity in pre-hospital emergencies and secondary transport of patients in urgent, very urgent or emergency inter-hospital transfers”.

INEM transfers to the firefighter associations that are part of the system the daily amount of 247.04 euros for each team, to cover the costs of their creation and operation 24 hours a day.

In addition to the INEM ambulances that are available at the fire departments, there is now also this additional reinforcement in response capacity through this pre-hospital emergency device.