Emergency service revolution in the Ennepe-Ruhr district: More RTW and new guards!

Emergency service revolution in the Ennepe-Ruhr district: More RTW and new guards!

A revolutionary step in the rescue service of the Ennepe-Ruhr district! The new emergency service requirements plan provides for a dramatic increase in the number of ambulances (RTW) from 13 to 22. This plan will come into force from July 2025 after the district council has already given the green light. The need for more ambulances is obvious: with the introduction of core operational areas in which in 90% of cases the first rescue vehicle should be on site within 8 minutes, the efficiency of the rescue service will be significantly increased.

New emergency service plan brings massive changes

The new core areas of operation affect large parts of Witten and Hattingen as well as parts of Ennepetal, Gevelsberg, Wetter (Ruhr) and Schwelm. For areas outside these core areas, the aid period of 12 minutes remains. To cope with the increased demand, the RTW's weekly operating time will be increased by an impressive 1,308 hours, from 2,184 to 3,492 hours. Two new rescue stations are also planned, while existing locations in Hattingen-Bredenscheid and Witten-Herbede will have to be relocated.

The number of emergency doctors remains unchanged for the time being: six emergency doctors are available at the Witten, Herdecke, Hattingen and Schwelm locations for a total of 861 hours of work per week. But that could change if the innovative teleemergency doctor system is introduced. Patient transport times will also be increased to 1,148 hours per week to meet growing demands. The details of the new locations and the providers of the ambulances will only be announced after the current procurement process has been completed.