Call for Ambulance Access to Patient Records in Stockholm

Ambulances in Region Stockholm currently lack access to patient records.

On Monday, Expressen reported that Region Stockholm is demanding the government initiate a legal change to allow addresses and individuals with a history of violence to be 'flagged' for ambulance crews during dispatches.

This specifically involves gaining access to information from police suspicion and criminal records, which is currently not permitted.

The issue has gained attention following the murder of a female ambulance worker during a call in Harmånger, near Hudiksvall.

At the same time, ambulance staff in Stockholm do not even have access to the healthcare system's own patient records for those they are assisting. The Left Party wants to change this.

– We fully support the 'flagging' of addresses. However, we believe it would be more effective if combined with the ability for ambulance personnel to read patient records, says Jonas Lindberg, opposition regional councilor and healthcare policy spokesperson for the Left Party in Region Stockholm.

"Shaking Our Heads"

When not in politics, he works as a nurse in an emergency department and often receives ambulances.

– It's often both us and the ambulance crews shaking our heads over their inability to read records. They go out with a blank slate, even though there is a comprehensive medical history and sometimes a history of agitated and violent behavior.

According to Jonas Lindberg, there are no legal barriers to giving ambulances access to patient records.

– Doctor cars and psychiatric ambulances already have the ability to read patient records, but not the rest of the large ambulance chain. It's primarily a resource and system issue.

He has not perceived any political divide on the issue. According to him, it's up to the administration to propose a practical solution.