A three-year-old boy died in Brandenburg an der Havel shortly before Christmas Eve.
Since then, it has been discussed whether the control center responded correctly to a previous emergency call.
Deputy Thomas Barz (CDU) confirmed a corresponding report by the "Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung" to SPIEGEL.
How exactly the boy's death came about is still unclear.
“There was an emergency call on the night of December 21st.
A child is very ill, also feverish," said Barz, who is also responsible for "Department 37 – Fire and Rescue Services" in his function as a councilor for the city of Brandenburg an der Havel.
The dispatcher on duty in the control center then asked, among other things, about unconsciousness, discolored lips and other details, as provided for in the emergency protocol, Barz continued.
The man has experience in his job and also works in shifts on the ambulance.
During the conversation there should have been indications that the boy was doing a little better, said Barz.
The dispatcher then discussed further options for action with the two callers: a call to the on-call service from the health insurance fund, the emergency consultation in a hospital, and of course another emergency call.
In the end, the decision was then made not to send an ambulance at this point – purely for technical reasons, said Barz.
There were sufficient staff and vehicles on the night in question.
Prosecutor determined
About seven hours later, another emergency call to the child was received, the boy was now lifeless, said Barz.
The emergency doctor who arrived shortly afterwards was too late.
He himself, but above all the colleagues in the rescue service, were deeply affected by the tragic incident.
"We are now awaiting the results of the prosecutor's death investigation," Barz said.
The entire process is also being examined internally, and the recordings of the evening are being evaluated.
"Of course, after an incident like this, we put everything to the test again," said the deputy - even if that unfortunately no longer helps the affected family.
Incidentally, the dispatcher who made the fateful decision is not suspended, as reported by some media, but is on duty in an ambulance.
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