If the patient’s condition requires it, a MUG/SMUR is sent to the scene of the intervention or a MUG/SMUR is used for transport between hospitals. In 2019, there were 135,880 primary interventions and 4,122 inter-hospital transport interventions[1].
The number of MUG/SMUR interventions increased from 96,956 interventions in 2010 to 132,790 interventions in 2019 (37%). When we look at the change per 100,000 residents, we see a percentage increase of 28%..
EVOLUTION IN NUMBER OF PRIMARY MUG/SMUREG INTERVENTIONS PER 100,000 RESIDENTS
Almost half of the MUG/SMUR interventions in 2019 took place in the Flemish Region (48%). We also note that only 14% of the MUG/SMUR interventions in Belgium took place in the Brussels-Capital Region and 38% in the Walloon Region.
NUMBER OF PRIMARY MUG/SMUREG INTERVENTIONS BY REGION (2019)
When studying the number of MUG/SMUR interventions per 100,000 residents, we observe a different proportion between the different regions in Belgium. The number of MUG/SMUR interventions per 100,000 residents is similar in the Brussels-Capital Region and the Walloon Region, namely 1,511 and 1,411 interventions respectively. The number of interventions per 100,000 in the Flemish Region is significantly lower and amounts to 960 interventions per 100,000 residents.
NUMBER OF PRIMARY MUG/SMUREG INTERVENTIONS BY REGION PER 100,000 RESIDENTS (2019)
When we analyse the number of interventions with a MUG/SMUR function by age and gender, we see the same picture as with the interventions with an ambulance. More interventions are performed for patients in an older age group and, until the age of 80 years, the proportion of interventions with a MUG/SMUR function is significantly higher for men than for women[2].
NUMBER OF PRIMARY INTERVENTIONS WITH AN MUG/SMUREG ROLE BY GENDER AND AGE (2019)[3]
[1]Source: MUG/SMUR records, Data and Policy Information Service, FPS HFCSE. The data for the recording year 2019 is the most recent data available at the time of editing this publication. After all, records have been suspended since 1/03/2020 to reduce the workload of healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
[2]There are probably fewer interventions for the 90 years and older age group because of a lower population in this group.
[3]For 12.90% of patients, either gender or age was not recorded. These patients were therefore not included in the graph concerned. It should also be noted that the number of patients does not necessarily equal the number of interventions.