When disaster strikes, everything changes in the blink of an eye – and we have to be able to call on our full resources. The injured require our urgent assistance but our day-to-day ambulance care also has to be available as always. Although we are fortunate to live in a relatively safe country where disasters are rare, we are always prepared for the unthinkable: a major emergency where the emergency services must do everything they can to help those affected.
Regional Coordinated Medical Emergency Disaster Response (GHOR)
We work closely with our Regional Coordinated Medical Emergency Disaster Response (GHOR). We supply the GHOR with experienced ambulance personnel (Medical Service Officers or OvDGs) who ensure that ambulance assistance is properly coordinated in the event of a major accident or major disaster. We have two Medical Service Officers on standby 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Medical Assistance for Major Incidents and Disasters (GGB)
Together with the GGB, we ensure that additional resources from our regular care services are deployed during major incidents and disasters, providing emergency assistance teams and additional medical materials. Thanks to the GGB, full medical assistance can be provided to 250 emergency patients at every location in the Netherlands at all times. Every Regional Ambulance Service in the Netherlands has made use of this response model since 2016. At the beginning of 2017, additional cooperation protocols were agreed for cases of extreme violence: Terrorist Attack Medical Response (TGB). The protocols for major incidents (GGB) and cases of extreme violence (TGB) will be combined.
