Many people still compare 1450 with the Corona hotline. She hasn’t for a long time. In the case of many sudden health problems, surgeries or outpatient clinics are raided outside of opening hours. About 70% (according to international studies) do not need an ambulance.
CARINTHIA. 1450 is the first point of contact for health concerns, and competent health advice is available 24 hours a day. As of 4 November 2019, the 24-hour first point of contact for health complaints should be the 1450 health advice phone.
“Corona intervened”
“Four months later, after a great and promising start, Corona unfortunately backfired. Overnight, 1450 became the Corona hotline. Unfortunately, most people still see it that way, although 1450 was the hotline again for a long time for all health problems”, says Beate Prettner.
Dial 1450
Taking into account the ordinations and crowded outpatient clinics – due to a high infection situation, but also due to the New Year holidays – the health officer asks the population of Carinthia to dial the number 1450 if they have health problems. “Health problems are not limited to office hours. Unexpected symptoms are particularly worrisome in children or the elderly,” says Prettner. “In these cases, 1450 is at your disposal with competent contacts – specially trained and qualified nursing and health personnel – 365 days a year, 24 hours a day”.
The advantages
People are immediately reassured in case of sudden health problems; unnecessary trips to the doctor or hospital are eliminated; long wait times are eliminated; Emergency departments are significantly relieved; and in the case of a real emergency, the rescue chain is immediately triggered. Attention: In emergency cases, the emergency number 141 must be dialed immediately.
Relief for ordinations and outpatient clinics
As Prettner reports, in the pre-Corona period, all calls were answered within 20 seconds. The morning hours between 6:00 am and 8:00 am and the evening hours between 5:00 pm and 10:00 pm proved to be the peak times. 1450 was dialed more frequently on the weekend, particularly Friday through Saturday. International comparative studies in Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark show how alleviating 1450 can be for surgeries and outpatient clinics: About 70 percent of people misjudge the urgency of their health complaints. Only 20 percent of calls can be routed to ambulances, nearly 60 percent are subsequently handled in the private sector.