New number 113 – for medical consultations

It will be possible to call when only medical advice is required, that is, the situation does not endanger life or human health due to the arrival of an ambulance brigade (GMP). 113 can also be used when you want to use a payment service to transport a patient, for example, from the home of a medical institution or from one medical institution to another. In the event that the dispatcher decides during a phone call that it is still necessary to send a GMP brigade, he will do so, that is, the patient will not have to call the emergency number 112 again.

It should be noted that in the event of a sudden threat to health or life, the emergency number 112 will continue to be assigned, and the number 113 will be able to seek medical advice on this or that issue (explain).

The current short numbers 03, 033 and 103 will remain until 2021. but you will be redirected to the General Assistance Center (BPC).

These changes resulted from the implementation of a government decision establishing an operational cooperation mechanism between the BPC and the emergency services, including the GMP, to provide emergency assistance to the population. This decision stipulates that there will be an emergency number 112 in Lithuania, through which the BPC will accept requests for assistance, and the emergency services will manage their forces operationally themselves. It is also planned to establish a new medical consultation line for residents when GMP brigades are not required to arrive at the site.

Changes will save you time when every minute counts. After all, BPC operators, who until now connected a caller to 112, have been waiting in the same queue as residents calling directly to GMP numbers 03, 103 and 033, who want to inquire about various medical problems. This means that in an emergency call received by the emergency number 112, the callers connected to GMP had to wait until the medical consultation was completed. For this reason, people resented having to wait too long.

The distinction between emergency call services and medical advisory services in GMP dispatch centers will be subject to different criteria such as response time, interview time, etc.

The operation of number 113 will be organized through 5 ambulance institutions providing dispatch services: Ambulance Station, Kaunas City Ambulance Station, Šiauliai Ambulance Station, Panevėžys City Ambulance Station and Klaipėda ambulances.

Depending on the concerns expressed by the patient, the counseling counselor at 113 can provide instructions to residents on how to help themselves. If necessary, the dispatcher may offer the patient to contact the outpatient clinic where the caller is registered to register for a medical consultation in the near future.

The dispatcher can also refer the patient to the outpatient clinic for a medical consultation the same day, and outside the outpatient clinic to the emergency department of the hospital with which the clinic has a contract, so that the patient can be registered with a doctor of family if possible.

The dispatcher may also suggest that the patient contact the hospital emergency department.

It is important to note that the short number 113 can also be called by medical institutions, social care institutions for the transfer of patients from one institution to another or home.

It should be noted that the new short number 113 is valid all the time, not just during a pandemic.