Standard times:
- A1 urgency (potentially life-threatening situation or a high risk of permanent injury) within 15 minutes after receiving the alert. The 15-minute standard is laid down by law and applies to the average performance for A1 emergencies throughout the region covered by the ambulance service over a one-year period. In 95% of A1 journeys, the ambulance must reach the patient within 15 minutes. This is a planning standard to determine how many ambulances are needed in a region. There is no scientific, care-related basis for this standard.
- A2 urgency (risk of permanent injury/subsequent damage, timely treatment is required but there is no indication of a life-threatening situation) within 30 minutes after receiving the alert.
- B urgency (planned transportation): within one hour of the appointed time. A1 and A2 emergencies are prioritized ahead of B urgency calls which can result in some delay. Hollands Midden Regional Ambulance Service uses a number of care ambulances exclusively for B-transportation.