Rescue in Vienna: Nine recommendations successfully implemented - there is still a lot to do!

Rescue in Vienna: Nine recommendations successfully implemented - there is still a lot to do!

Wien, Österreich - On July 18, 2025, the Court of Auditors published a report on the implementation of recommendations in Vienna's rescue system. The evaluation shows positive progress: of a total of 14 recommendations pronounced, nine was completely implemented and five, which has noticeably improved the efficiency of the emergency services in the city, reports MeinDZIRD .

The report includes a review of the Vienna emergency services from 2019 to 2024 and illustrates the positive developments in the control of operations. An important element was the agreement between the Vienna professional rescue and private emergency services for integration into the existing operational system. This cooperation guarantees that private providers also adhere to quality standards to ensure uniform processes for rescue operations and emergency calls, such as Auflungshof.gv.at reported.

rescue operations: objectives and challenges

A central goal of the Vienna professional rescue is to be on the scene in 90 percent of the cases within 14 minutes of receipt of an emergency call. For certain areas, such as the Wienerwald or the Danube Island, longer deadlines of up to 30 minutes apply. In order to achieve these goals, the selection of suitable vehicles was optimized, which led to an increase in the emergency hospital transport car, while the use of normal ambulance was partially declining.

The need for a central, integrated control center for Vienna remains an unsolved problem. Although the planning started in 2017, the Covid 19 pandemic was delayed, which brakes the progress, as is clearly evident in the report. An adapted concept for an integrated control center system has been worked out, but its implementation is still pending.

need for reforms in the emergency services

The development of the emergency services in Vienna is not without challenges. The Vienna Chamber of Labor has pointed out that there is an urgent need for reform. For example, Silvia Rosoli, head of the health profession department, calls for an improvement in training in the emergency services. In this regard, Clemens Kaltenberger, Vice President of the Federal Association of Rescue Service, also emphasizes the need to amend the paramedic law in order to optimize the training of the paramedics: on Arbeiterkammer.at

Apparently the number of paramedics are estimated: inside in Austria to around 48,000, with the training standards under European level. The length of stay at work is declining, which causes concern in the industry. In addition, the increase in rescue operations of almost 21 % between 2017 and 2023 is a serious problem that puts the desired time specifications in danger. Experts warn that until 2030 only in 70 percent of the cases the period of 15 minutes can be met.

The improvement of preclinical care requires a new three -stage modular training system that is available in response to these challenges. In the future, the first courses could start from 2027, but this also depends on stable financial support.