Criticism of the emergency services: District defends itself against centralization!

Criticism of the emergency services: District defends itself against centralization!

At the moment it is bubbling in the district of Darmstadt-Dieburg: The reform plans of the health insurance companies for the emergency services are met with sharp criticism. On July 8, 2025, the Association of Replacements (VDEK) presented a test report that examined the 25 integrated central control centers for emergency services, fire and disaster protection in the country. This evaluation was anything but well received by District Administrator Klaus Peter Schellhaas and his team. "We cannot understand how to get the idea of simply dissolving proven structures," explains Schellhaas in a statement. The lack of understanding about the results of the report, which only consider data from emergency services, is great, so Ladadi.de.

"We have high quality standards here in the district," emphasizes Schellhaas and refers to the intensive technical networking with neighboring control centers and the high level of digitization of the emergency services. Another point that is often not sufficiently taken into account in the local discussion is the important role of the control centers as a crisis manager, emphasizes district fire inspector Matthias Maurer-Hardt. "Centralization could seriously jeopardize our flexibility in security," he warns, and at the same time recognizes the argument that local knowledge in such a rural area as ours is indispensable.

demands for reforms

The health insurance companies, on the other hand, sound the alarm: they warn of overload, high costs and outdated structures in the emergency services. A comprehensive need for reform is urgently needed, according to the voices of the Tagesschau of July 10, 2025. Emergency query with telemedical care. These criticisms are based on the experience of other countries, such as the Netherlands and Denmark, where central control centers are already successfully established.

"Currently the 25 independent rescue control centers in Hesse are too small and expensive," warn the health insurance companies. The prices for emergency control centers have increased by 73% in the past ten years, and even 97% for ambulances. However, the Hessian Cities Day sees the local control centers indispensable for municipal danger defense and demands increased cooperation and networking of the existing systems instead of radical centralization. Even private providers in the emergency services complain of being excluded from tenders, which limits competition and thus also the innovative strength.

Development without breaking up proven structures

Despite this tense situation, the Darmstadt-Dieburg district is open to sensible further developments in the emergency services. "But we reject existing structures," Schellhaas makes it clear. There is no lack of willingness to react to the challenges in the emergency services, but reforms must be in accordance with the proven circumstances. After all, the supply of the population should not only ensure that quick help arrives in an emergency, but also maintain the high quality standard that the district is already offering.

The discussion about reforms in the emergency services will continue to employ the region sharply in the coming weeks. The right balance between the necessary modernization and the preservation of existing, functioning structures is the key to a future -proof solution.