Rescue Services in Italy

Legal Bases

The decree from Italy's president on the 27th March 1992 empowers the government with the right to give authority for the setting up and co-ordination of an integrated and comprehensive provision of health care. The rescue services fall into the exclusive responsibility of the national health service. In agreement with the conference of the nation and regions (Conferenza Statoregioni) the government has determined standards to be met concerning the equipment in rescue vehicles as well as the training of rescue vehicle personnel.

Organisation

The presidential decree of 1992 also contains the organisational requirements for the rescue services: The regions and autonomous provinces determine their actions with regard to the emergency call system, the rescue services, as well as in admitting the patient. The rescue service system ensures the administration of First Aid and that the patient receives medical attention in a hospital or clinic. Rescue measures are set down in a series of rules and regulations, arranged according to the type of emergency. In order to alter the action taken in event of a rescue, the regions and provinces can call upon the support of authorised officials within the rescue service, as well as authorised public and private organisations.

Head Offices

The Head Offices are set up and managed across the provinces, and can be reached by dialling a single emergency number, 118; calls to other authorities or to local health services are automatically re-directed. The frequencies used by the rescue services for radio communications are reserved solely for use by the national health service. Organisational and medical matters are the responsibility of an assistant doctor, preferably an anaesthetist, and with proven practical experience. The Head Offices are staffed day and night by appropriately trained nursing personnel, who at all times have access to medical support from doctors.

Doctor Involvement

An emergency doctor system has been in existence for several years in Italy. There exists however a large discrepancy in the level of rescue services between northern and southern Italy. The south Tyrol region, for example, is aiming to achieve the standard of provision enjoyed by its more northerly neighbouring countries. In view of the training there are, of course, state controls, yet standards ultimately depend on regional circumstances.

Air Rescue

In this area no national information is available. In Bozen and Brixen two rescue helicopters and a reserve helicopter are operated by the 118 Emergency Services and the Weis-ses Kreuz in south Tyrol.

Personnel / Training

It is the task of the government, in agreement with the conference of states and regions, to set standards with regard to job qualifications. In addition, a suitably trained and qualified person working in the rescue services can be authorised to carry out live-saving techniques. Such instructions are given by the duty doctor in order to maintain the vital functions of the patient. Volunteers with special training in life-saving techniques also work alongside trained nurses.

Finance

The national health service covers the costs for:

• transporting the patient and the action taken by the rescue services, provided that authorisation was given by the head office and the patient was taken to hospital;
• for the examination during the emergency rescue, even if not subsequently admitted to hospital;
• for transporting the patient from one hospital to another, provided that this has been authorised by the hospital.

It is not a case of your own private insurance paying!