Ambulance services

There are differences in how Falck's ambulance services are organised in the various countries. In Denmark, Belgium and Norway, the service is built up around paramedics and ambulance assistants. In Poland and Slovakia, there are doctors, nurses and paramedics in the ambulances. The ambulance services in Sweden and Finland are based on nurses and paramedics.

In Slovakia, Sweden, Poland and Belgium, Falck is the largest ambulance operator, with continuing focus on growth. Ambulance activities in Norway and Finland are currently not very extensive, but Falck expects growth in these and other countries in the years ahead.  

Developments in ambulance services

At the turn of the millennium, Falck was among the first ambulance service providers to introduce satellite monitoring (GPS, GIS) of ambulances. This means that Falck’s dispatch centres in Denmark always have updated knowledge on where the ambulances are located and whether they are free. Therefore, Falck is always able to send the next available ambulance, thus avoiding waste of vital time.

Falck provides ambulance services in accordance with national and international regulations. The development of the prehospital services in the European countries is progressing quickly these years.

Among other things, major developments are being seen in telemedicine, which is a rapidly growing area in Falck’s ambulance services. This technology allows ambulance crews to transfer data on patient heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation directly from the ambulance to a specialist at the receiving hospital. Based on these data, the specialist can guide the ambulance crew and thus ensure optimal treatment from the start. Moreover, the hospital can prepare to receive the patient whilst he or she is still underway in the ambulance. The electronic communication of patient data ensures rapid transmission of vital information to be used in the treatment of patients once they arrive at the hospital.