Updated 08.25 | Published 08.04
SOS Alarm responds to the emergency number far too slowly, the National Audit Office’s new review shows. Due to lack of and undeveloped control, the operations of the alarm center have become ineffective.
SOS Alarm’s goal is that whoever calls 112 should receive an answer within eight seconds. The National Audit Office’s review, which was published on Thursday, shows that the alarm center has not reached its goals in the last ten years. It also shows that response times vary depending on where in Sweden you live.
The National Audit Office writes that the number of response times of over three minutes is increasing, which SOS Alarm’s own assessments may pose a risk to the patient.
The government’s governance is lacking
The National Audit Office’s assessment is that the government’s governance, as half owner and client, has been far too weak. An example of this is that in the agreement with SOS Alarm there is no writing about what happens when the alarm center does not reach the targets.
The authority for social security and preparedness (MSB) is the authority that supervises the alarm center, which also has shortcomings, according to the National Audit Office.
“For example, it is not based on legislation, regulation or regulation, and MSB lacks the ability to force SOS Alarm to take action,” writes Riksrevisionen.
Not in the law
Today, there is no writing about SOS Alarm in the law. Now the National Audit Office recommends that the government produce a bill, something that was previously proposed by a government investigation from 2018.
“That there is no special constitutional regulation of this socially important function is remarkable, and makes responsibilities, roles and obligations less clear. In addition, it worsens the supervision’s conditions and ability to detect deficiencies,” says Auditor General Helena Lindberg in a press release.
While waiting for a legislative proposal, the National Audit Office recommends that the government review, for example, the supervisory mission that MSB has, that higher requirements should be placed on SOS Alarm.