Rescue service in Europe: Hungary

Statutory framework

In 1892 the “Budapest Voluntary Rescue Association“ was founded. In 1948 the rescue associations were nationalised. During this period the foundations of the national rescue service, which still exists today, developed in Hungary. By 1989 the rescue service and the ambulance service were completely in the hands of this state rescue service. Subsequently a decree by the Council of Ministers also allowed private companies to take on tasks within the health and social welfare sector for the first time. In a relatively short time numerous rescue and ambulance organisations were founded, including several non-governmental organisations too. In 1995 33 organisations merged to form the “Trade Association of the Private and Ambulance Services in Hungary“.   

Organisation

Today approximately 40% of ambulance services and 5% of rescue services are carried out by private companies and non-governmental organisations. The rescue service can be alarmed via the central telephone number 104 or via the nationally effective emergency number 112. The legally prescribed callout time in Hungary is 15 minutes nationwide.  

Head offices

The head offices coordinate the work of the rescue stations and the deployment of the rescue team. The head offices are established at a “Komitat” level (counties, at present 19 Hungarian “Komitate”), but they are also part of the state rescue service.   

Doctors in the rescue service

The rescue teams always consist of an emergency doctor, specialised nurse and driver. The doctors take a direct part in the rescue and form an important part of the rescue team. In Hungary a distinction is made between three types of rescue vehicles:

• The emergency doctor vehicle is manned by a medical specialist with special rescue service training, an internist or an anaesthetist. It is only used in urgent cases.   
• The ambulance is manned by a doctor and a specialised nurse. The doctor’s tasks include reanimation, measures for heart attacks and establishing death, etc.  
• The “ONE” VEHICLE (= Orvos nélküli eset-kocsi) is an ambulance without a doctor. This is a fully equipped rescue vehicle, but, instead of a doctor, a specialised nurse carries out simple emergency measures for minor injuries, fractures, burns etc. or even obstetrics.

Air rescue

98% of air rescue is state regulated. At present there is only one private organisation, which takes part in air rescue with two helicopters. There are several reasons for this: On the one hand, private ambulance organisations are lacking sufficient capital for large investments. On the other hand, the state rescue service is not interested in surrendering air rescue to private companies. Helicopters are always used if the ambulance cannot be at the accident scene on time or the condition of the ill person requires this, i.e. that he or she can only be transported to a hospital on time in this way. The helicopter transport service is always carried out with a doctor in attendance.  

Personnel and training

During the long period when the rescue service lay solely in the hand of the state the rescue personnel received qualified specialised training at a professional school. During the three-year training the specialised nurses are prepared for their job by means of standard teaching material. In addition to this, a decree determines exactly how many hours of practical experience the staff must have according to the specialised area to be able to work on an ambulance. The work in the rescue service may only be carried out and continued if 50 points are achieved every five years. In the interests of continuous specialised training, so-called “medical cards“ are kept available by a central office and issued to the specialised nurses. A corresponding number of points are entered for the training hours. The medical card is considered as certification for the further training.   

The professional level in Hungary is undoubtedly good. Nevertheless, structures must be standardised and cooperation between the various institutions and organisations must be improved so that rescue services and ambulance services can work even better and more efficiently.