The case in summary Oslo University Hospital (OUS) has refused an extension of the agreement to use the fire boat as an ambulance boat. Health council Saliba Andreas Korkunc expresses concern that preparedness on the fjord could deteriorate. OUS believes there is no longer a need for an ambulance boat, as changed admission areas make it more appropriate to transport patients by car or helicopter. The fireboat will still be equipped with first aid equipment and will be able to provide medical care if needed, but will not be able to be used as before. OUS plans to use other resources to transport patients to land, including helicopters and cooperation with the Rescue Company, the Red Cross, the fire service and the police. Oslo municipality has decided to order a clean fire boat after the rejection from OUS. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – We have had very good cooperation between the municipality and the hospital. We use common resources on an important part of emergency preparedness in Oslo. – It is a shame that Oslo University Hospital does not want to continue that collaboration, says health councilor Saliba Andreas Korkunc (H). “The Rescue” He meets news at the far end of Vippetangen. Here, Oslo’s fireboat “Redningen” is docked right outside the Danish boat. It is a stone’s throw away from the Sentrum fire station. If something happens in the fjord or on the islands, the fire boat can move out in less than a minute. Since it was launched in 2008, the fire boat has also been an ambulance boat. The “rescue” has a fully furnished sick bay, much like a normal ambulance. AMBULANCE BOAT: This is what the sick bay in the fire boat looks like. Photo: Olav Juven / news Oslo municipality and Oslo University Hospital (OUS) have had an agreement that the fire service also carries out ambulance missions on the sea. Buying a new fireboat Now the “Rescue” is old and ripe for replacement. The fire and rescue service is in the process of buying a new boat. Oslo municipality wanted to continue the collaboration and buy a combined fire and ambulance boat. Therefore, they asked the hospital to extend the agreement, and splice the boat. A combi boat is much more expensive than a pure fire boat. But OUS declined. In June, health councilor Korkunc and environment and transport councilor Marit Vea (V) asked the hospital to think twice. They write that they want a solution “that facilitates the municipality’s and society’s […] resources can be used as efficiently as possible for our common good’. SHOULD BE REPLACED: The fireboat Redningen from 2008 sings on the last verse. Photo: Olav Juven / news No longer needed But the hospital maintains that an ambulance boat is no longer needed. Clinic manager Steinar Olsen at the pre-hospital clinic explains that it is connected to changed admission areas. When the agreement was concluded, Nesodden belonged to OUS. The fireboat transported patients from Nesodden into the city. Since then, the nosedives have been transferred to Ahus in Lørenskog. – Then it is more appropriate to drive them by car, possibly fly them in a helicopter if it is urgent, says Steinar Olsen to news. The fastest fireboat Oslo’s fire chief, Jon Myroldhaug, confirms that the number of missions has decreased from over 100 a year at most. But the fireboat still goes out as an ambulance around 35 times a year. – I think we are probably the fastest overall, at least over a year, says Myroldhaug. FIRE CHIEF: Jon Myroldhaug is chief of the Fire and Rescue Service in Oslo municipality. Photo: Olav Juven / news The fire chief says that they are prepared to provide health care in the future as well. – We will have defibrillators and some first aid equipment on board, just like in the fire trucks. – But OUS cannot count on using us like before. Then others get to say what kind of consequence it has, says Jon Myroldhaug. – Will get worse And plays the ball over to the health council: – The fire boat for Oslo municipality is available around the clock and has a very short call-out time. We will of course still help in the event of emergency incidents, but the hospital cannot therefore use the boat as it does today, says Saliba Korkunc. – Does this mean that health preparedness in the inner Oslofjord will be weakened? – I expect OUS to do what they can to ensure that it is not weakened. But it is clear that I am somewhat worried about health preparedness. – It will be worse than is the case today, says Korkunc. NURSE: The fire boat is designed much like an ambulance on land. Photo: Olav Juven / news Using helicopters Steinar Olsen in OUS does not agree. He wants continued cooperation with the fire service to ensure that health personnel get out quickly. – At the same time, we will use other resources where the patient needs to be transported ashore. He emphasizes that the population should not be worried about not getting help when it is urgent. – If immediate help is needed, we have two helicopters at Lørenskog. We have a rescue helicopter, and we have an agreement with the Rescue Company, the Red Cross and with the fire service and the police around the Oslofjord. – There is good preparedness in the inner Oslofjord for incidents, says Steinar Olsen. CLINIC MANAGER: Steinar Olsen is head of the prehospital clinic at Oslo University Hospital. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news Saliba Korkunc makes it clear that Oslo municipality will not take more rounds with OUS, but will order a pure fire boat. – It’s a shame, because we need more collaboration between hospital and municipality, not less. Here, Oslo University Hospital should know its visiting hours, but we take note that despite repeated attempts we have been refused, he says. Published 10.07.2024, at 07.07 Updated 10.07.2024, at 07.11
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The fire boat in Oslo will no longer be an ambulance boat – the city council fears worse preparedness in the Oslofjord – Greater Oslo
