The tense corona situation presents hospitals with a major challenge of unknown extent.
The head of the Bavarian clinics explains what needs to be done now.
Munich - Roland Engehausen represents around 360 clinics as managing director of the Bayerische Krankenhausgesellschaft.
In an interview, he explains why he is so worried about the corona situation - and what the consequences are for all patients.
Mr. Engehausen, how serious is the situation in Bavaria's hospitals?
Roland Engehausen:
The situation is far more dramatic than it was a year ago.
And the hope that this situation will sweep through Bavaria like a thunderstorm and pass quickly will unfortunately not come true.
Every day we think it can't get worse - until it gets worse again.
Patient care is at risk.
If the number of corona patients continues to rise, we will soon no longer be able to guarantee them.
We are faced with an unknown situation because we have never had such a bottleneck that is rolling towards us.
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What does it mean in concrete terms if the supply can no longer be guaranteed?
Engehausen:
It's a gradual process.
Unlike in India, for example, we will certainly not have a shortage of ventilators.
We simply lack the staff.
Within narrow limits, this could perhaps be softened by being more flexible in dealing with personnel assignments.
However, our doctors and nurses are already working around the clock.
What does that mean for the patient?
Engehausen:
If it continues as it currently looks, patients may have to travel longer and longer to find a clinic that can still treat them. In addition, some treatments, which ideally take place in the intensive care unit, are already being carried out in the normal ward and interventions that can be planned have to be postponed longer and longer, if at all justifiable. And we're also talking about cancer operations that can be postponed for a few days or, if necessary, weeks - but certainly not for months. We come to a tipping point at which this is no longer justifiable at some point. For the sick but also for our employees, this is a major practical and emotional problem.
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What has to happen now?
Engehausen:
We are really appalled how the federal politics, after perceiving our clinics on site, got lost in a theoretical discussion about whether we have an epidemic situation from a legal point of view or not instead of taking action. We are currently on a hamster wheel that is turning faster and faster in the wrong direction because the increasing burden in the pandemic is also leading to more and more failures and, recently, even to layoffs among staff. That is why the clinics now need more support. We need relief from bureaucratic requirements with regard to the documentation obligations and the accounting audits. In addition, we need a clear financial budget security in order to be able to bundle all forces for patient care in the pandemic.
And outside of the clinics?
Enclosed:
Less mobility and more home office are needed again so that the virus cannot spread so quickly.
However, the development can only be stopped with more vaccinations.
We would welcome a facility-related vaccination requirement in the entire health and social sector.
And with the booster vaccinations, the turbo must now be used - especially in old people's and nursing homes.
We are also in favor of more 2G and 2Gplus regulations, even if this restricts the freedom of movement for unvaccinated people.
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