The phone no longer stands still, the rush is enormous: "We are no longer able to act," says Dr.
Julia Albert from Unterammergau spent many days in the practice.
Colleagues feel the same way - the corona crisis is not only to be shouldered by the clinics.
District
- The situation is messed up. The fourth corona wave is causing ever greater problems in the district. The clinics have to postpone planned operations, the intensive care units are full. But not only the hospitals are bearing the burden of this crisis: GPs are also at the limit of their capacities. This was made clear by representatives in an online round with the daily newspaper, to which corona coordinator Dr. Kristina Ott had invited.
"What has happened to me for the last two weeks exceeds anything that has been in 21 months", says Dr.
Julia Albert, general practitioner from Unterammergau.
“We are no longer able to act.” She counted 130 phone calls from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. last Monday.
“We feel a certain exhaustion,” confirms colleague Michael Wilsch from Grainau.
“We can't do more than work, but some of the people have no understanding, are very demanding or rude to our medical assistants.
You can't rate their work highly enough at the moment. "
Doctors need help from the population: patience is the highest virtue
A difficult situation that the doctors want to draw attention to. "We now need help from the population so that people don't block our phones, think about whether a visit is absolutely necessary, that they have patience when vaccinating," summarizes Ott. With regard to the high number of infections, pediatrician Oliver Michael from Murnau adds: “People have to become aware of the problems we are currently facing. Each individual can and must reduce their contacts. ”And not only“ if it is imposed on us by law due to an incidence of over 1000, ”says Ott.
The general practitioners' practices in the region are hit hard.
In contrast to the beginnings of the Corona, when people were in lockdown and the waiting rooms were empty, patients are now stacking up.
The telephones keep ringing, people request vaccination appointments, jostle, want to be tested, but also have complaints such as back pain, need checkups or blood tests.
"We also have to do our normal medical activities," emphasizes Wilsch.
“Everything with Corona comes on top of that.
Every practice tries to do its best.
And that for one and three quarters of years. "
Dr.
Kristina Ott: "We keep the clinic's back free"
The situation has worsened in the past few weeks. "Medical care in the district stands or falls with the fact that we remain able to work," warns Ott. "Because we keep the clinic's back free." However, everyday business in particular is made extremely difficult. Also through a lot of bureaucracy. "With every cold, we currently have to clarify whether it is Corona or just a very simple cold. You can no longer rely on the classic symptoms at this time of year. "The paperwork that is associated with this paralyzes the work of the medical professionals:" For this alone we have to fill out an A4 form, answer 17 questions for sure, we question contacts, that everything has become so powerful, ”complains Ott.
The doctors do not even speak of a positive case.
Ott emphasizes that the number of infected people who come to the practices has almost exploded in the past two weeks.
"We are constantly receiving patients with positive rapid tests, and the PCR tests are now also usually positive." At the end of October there were only a few cases.
"In two to three weeks this will be reflected in the clinic occupancy, which is dramatic."
Cancellation of planned surgery increases patient suffering
In the eyes of the doctors, the occupancy of the hospitals is a major deficiency. "In Garmisch-Partenkirchen, we are not allowed to send any patients with severe back pain, for example," says Ott. "They are sent home immediately because treatment is not possible." The cancellation of the planned operations is also a problem, notes Wilsch. "That increases the suffering for many patients enormously." Hansjörg Wiesböck, organizational head of operations at the health department, agrees. "The high number of cases and the hospital occupancy add up to a mortgage for general practitioner care."
At least in the direction of corona prophylaxis, interest is increasing significantly.
However, primarily on booster vaccinations, i.e. on the third injection for those who have previously been fully vaccinated.
"The ratio for me is about 9: 1, for every nine booster vaccinations there is an initial vaccination," reveals Wilsch, slightly confused (a report on the vaccination situation will follow).
CHRISTIAN FELLNER