Demand management measures for ambulance services may be adopted, the Security Bureau says, as it studys ways to ensure ambulances are targeted more at people in genuine need.

The bureau told lawmakers the number of emergency calls rose from 459,658 in 2000 to 536,359 in 2004, up 16.7%. It was higher than the 2.7% population rise. The ratio between calls and the population rose from 1:14.6 to 1:12.9.

Despite a general recruitment freeze, exceptional exemption has been given for the Fire Services Department to recruit 92 ambulance officers in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Fee review

The Government is reviewing public medical fees, targeting government subsidies to patients and services most in need. An increase in the accident and emergency charge may help reduce demand for ambulance services.

The bureau may consider introducing a separate charge for ambulance services, independent from the accident and emergency fee. The charge, with suitable waiver for the needy, should discourage less-necessary use of ambulance services.

In considering the option, the Government will need to ensure the provision of ambulance services continues to be accessible and affordable. It will also need to ensure no one is denied ambulance services due to lack of means.

Priority dispatch

The Fire Services Department has commissioned a study on the feasibility of introducing a priority ambulance dispatch system. It will be completed by September.

Ambulance calls are addressed on a next-in-queue basis. There is no mechanism to differentiate the level of urgency. Dispatch prioritisation will enable categorisation of calls, and enable more flexible and targeted use of resources.

The department has also been discussing with staff the possibility of adjusting ambulance crew shifts to correspond better to service demand patterns. It also plans to stop conveying patients to hospitals preferred by them so resources can be better used.