Author:

Abstract:

Following the Belgian law on emergency medical services in 1964, prehospital care has undergone a continuous evolution. Hospitals have extended their activities extra muros with mobile emergency care units (MECU) and emergency ambulances. In Flanders, 43 recognized MECU's do occur. To study the role of hospitals in prehospital care in Flanders, data of 37 (of 63) hospitals were collected using a questionnaire. Nineteen hospitals in this study possess an emergency ambulance, sixteen of them staffed with nurses. We calculated that 75% of nurses on duty for a MECU or an ambulance are available for working in the emergency department for respectively 85% and 80% of their time as well. Still the limited budget of MECU-teams and ambulance services is insufficient. A financing of these services corresponding with their readiness and activities would be more appropriate.