If the number of infections does not fall, Oliver Hübler, director of care at the Freising Clinic, fears a collapse of the health system.
He makes a fiery appeal to the citizens.
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In the Freising Clinic, preparations are underway for an emergency - the further influx of seriously ill Covid 19 patients.
Five patients are already being ventilated.
And the capacities - especially when it comes to the nursing staff - are limited.
If the number of infections does not go down, nursing director Oliver Hübler fears a collapse of the health system in Germany.
At the end of the conversation with the Freisinger Tagblatt, Hübler made a fiery appeal to everyone.
Mr. Hübler, can the clinic even cope with a second severe corona wave?
That depends on the further infection process.
Currently - as of Monday - we have five patients, all of whom have to be ventilated, including younger ones in their 50s.
16 other patients - from younger to very old - are also in the isolation ward, for which we have already reserved an entire level.
The numbers are currently stable.
But I can't see into the future.
Nobody knows what happens next.
I cannot see a clear downward trend.
So we are preparing for a further expansion in the intensive care and surveillance area.
It's quite a challenge.
Why?
Because we only have a limited number of employees.
We rely on our colleagues from the nursing and medical sectors on voluntary basis in order to be able to manage it in some way.
And they all do an excellent job.
But that also has its price - namely, restrictions on capacities outside the Covid area.
We still have strokes, heart attacks and cancer.
We have to master the second corona crisis - but still continue to provide medical care for the entire population.
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Nursing director Oliver Hübler warns: "We only have a limited number of skilled nurses."
© Freising Clinic
How many patients were there at the height of the first wave?
At that time we ventilated a maximum of 14 patients in the intensive care unit and looked after 60 more in the isolation ward.
But that also pushed us to the limit.
Have you been able to expand this capacity?
We could set up beds and more - but we don't have the nursing staff to look after these patients.
That means: We can still operate a maximum of 14 intensive care beds, plus a few surveillance beds.
But even there the capacities are quickly exhausted.
You cannot shake intensive care nurses off your sleeve.
The training takes years.
Since the number of infections is still high in the Freising district, that means: It's already five to twelve.
Yes, we are on guard.
What goes on in you when you see pictures from Berlin with thousands of corona deniers and mask refusers?
Then I ask myself the question: Is individual freedom really the greatest good that needs to be defended - and what price are you willing to pay for it?
Take a look at Switzerland.
All intensive care beds there are already occupied.
Do we want to risk that too?
We have to fear the collapse of our health system if the wave of infections continues as before.
One should be clear about what that means: This can have consequences for the supply of the population for years and decades to come.
Do we want a health system with limited supply in Germany?
As a politician, this should be included in your considerations.
What do you think should happen now? A total lockdown?
That would be the ultima ratio if all appeals no longer bear fruit.
Now I expect better crisis communication from the government instead of contradicting statements that people get on winding paths from any committees.
It now needs a clear appeal to be considerate and mindful.
Whether regulations need to be tightened depends on the infection rate.
But one thing is certain: if things continue like this, we are heading for a collapse.
This is not scare tactics, but a critical assessment of the situation.
If things go on like this - then you will have a large number of Covid-19 patients at the hospital permanently. How long can you hold out? Half a year?
Depending on the number of sick patients and their disease progression, one has to evaluate the events critically.
In the case of a permanently high load, we reach our limits and then have to reckon with increased absences among employees - with all the consequences.
How is the mood in the care sector?
The commitment is at a very high level - and I pay my employees the greatest respect for this.
But the mood is tense.
What is your appeal to those around you?
Be careful!
Think about which activities are really necessary!
Corona can be considered a fairy tale.
But then you shouldn't be surprised if one day you get seriously ill - and there is no more free bed in the clinic.
The B301 northeast bypass near Freising will be opened to traffic on Monday. You can now get to the A 92 for 4.2 kilometers without having to struggle through the city.
How did libraries in the Freising district adapt to the lockdown? The magic word is digitization. Reading on site is no longer possible.
