Emergency center East Netherlands could not answer 112 calls due to shortage

The ambulance dispatch center in East Netherlands faced a shortage of staff, leading to delays in answering emergency calls. During the night of September 30 to October 1, the center had no capacity to handle 112 calls, although no calls went unanswered as they were redirected after a 60-second wait. The spokesperson acknowledged that this wait is too long in emergencies and highlighted the overall staffing crisis in healthcare. Measures are being implemented to address the shortage, including training more personnel and utilizing additional staff. A government campaign will soon launch to educate the public on appropriate 112 usage to reduce unnecessary calls.