District / Füssen - Dr.
Martin Hinterseer, Medical Director of the Füssen Clinic, is noticeably upset: "This week alone eight people died as a result of a corona infection," he reports in an interview with the district messenger.
Hinterseer appeals that everyone is asked to cope with the crisis: by vaccinating, by observing the hygiene rules.
In the Füssen Clinic, "all interventions that can be postponed are currently being postponed," reports the Medical Director on the current situation. He emphasizes that despite the growing number of new corona infections, all emergencies - for example heart attack or stroke patients - are treated medically as they were before the pandemic. "The biggest problem: too many people are not vaccinated," he clearly puts his finger in the wound. The vaccination discussion also "does not leave its mark" on the doctors and nursing teams in Füssen.
If you find out about the Corona situation in the morning, you will find out that every day begins with bad news. In the Allgäu, and consequently especially in Füssen, more and more sick people with life-threatening symptoms are being admitted to hospital. Given the increasing number of new infections from your clinic, is there even some good news?
Dr. Hinterseer:
“The patients and their relatives should know that our teams are extremely committed every day.
Without this exemplary commitment, it would not be possible to keep the clinic running during the pandemic.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all employees for their extraordinary commitment and the passion with which they defy the daily challenges. "
Let's talk about numbers. How many occupied intensive care beds are there at Klinik Füssen? How many on the Covid ward?
Dr. Hinterseer:
“We are currently treating nine patients in the Covid ward, this ward can care for a maximum of 15 patients.
There are currently three Covid patients in the intensive care unit - one ward that currently only has a maximum of five beds available.
In Füssen we can currently no longer admit any additional sick people to the intensive care unit.
Such patients have been transferred to other clinics for some time, some of which are very far away from home, for example Regensburg. "
What is the reason for this?
Dr. Hinterseer:
“In all clinics it is clear that it is not because of the beds or ventilation machines, it is because of the lack of staff.
The care of Covid patients is very maintenance-intensive, protective clothing must be worn continuously, special precautionary measures are taken to avoid infecting yourself;
Positioning measures are physically exhausting and of course caring for these seriously ill people is emotionally very challenging.
There is currently a lack of specialist staff throughout Germany, including Füssen. "
Didn't you know that much earlier?
Dr. Hinterseer:
“We were well positioned in terms of personnel.
Due to the extreme workload in the previous three waves of the pandemic, skilled workers have migrated to other professions, some got sick themselves and are long-term absences due to Long-Covid, others have switched to part-time.
While we were able to offer ten intensive care beds in the first few waves, there are now only five due to personnel requirements.
A sad development.
On the other hand, the number of Covid patients has increased significantly in recent weeks.
So far, over 2OO have been treated as inpatients in Füssen. "
Have everyone who works in the Füssen Clinic taken care of their own vaccination protection?
Dr. Hinterseer:
“Unfortunately that is not the case and it is a big issue!
Personally, I am in favor of compulsory vaccination. "
For healthcare workers?
Dr. Hinterseer:
“No, for everyone!
The vaccination would help us to actually get the serious problems under control, not to lose thousands more people.
The scientific data are clear, for an unvaccinated person the risk of suffering a severe hospital course is eight times as high as for a vaccinated person. "
How high is the proportion of vaccinated corona patients among the acute patients in Füssen?
Dr. Hinterseer:
“On average we have more than 2/3 thirds of unvaccinated patients with a severe course.
These patients are on average 50 to 60 years old and most of them have no previous illnesses. "
Stricter rules
If you want to visit a patient in the clinic, you will be informed at the entrance that this is currently not possible. Are there any exceptions to this?
Dr. Hinterseer:
“In order to protect people inside and outside the clinic from infections, it is necessary to adhere to the now stricter access regulations of the state government for hospital visits.
As we know from our gate, visitors react to this with great understanding.
Visiting exceptions are possible, for example dying patients may be accompanied by relatives, partners of expectant mothers may visit the obstetrics ward - also by arrangement.
Proof of this - vaccination certificate and negative test certificate - must be brought with you. "
What will it take to tackle this wave and the next?
Dr. Hinterseer:
"At the moment a lockdown will be inevitable, vaccination is mandatory for everyone and the quick booster vaccinations in combination with the long-known hygiene regulations (AHA), because we already have a 'prioritization of resources in the system', as it is called in official German Country like Germany.
A situation that shouldn't have been like this. "
