ABSTRACT
The hospital is situated at the end of the chain of medical care, with a certain Hospital Treatment Capacity, which is determined by personnel, material and methods. A large general hospital is in a position to enlist a smaller or larger number of staff according to information coming in regarding the nature and magnitude of a disaster. This so-called ‘balanced response’ is difficult to realise in a medium-sized district hospital. Communication between hospital personnel, particularly between the members of the disaster committee who are acting as troubleshooters, should be guaranteed. Hospital personnel should perform duties for which they have been trained and in a location in which they are used to working. The disaster alarm, coming from outside the hospital, should be relayed to the duty surgeon. Only he or she is in a position to decide whether or not the disaster plan should be set in motion.
