The Freising Clinic is struggling with staff shortages and a number of corona patients.
According to the pandemic officer, the situation is “almost like in the worst of times”.
While politicians are largely relaxing the protective measures against Corona, the medical staff in Freising continue to work under high pressure due to Corona.
The situation at the Freising Clinic: still tense.
In the FT interview, the hospital's pandemic officer, Dr.
Christian Fiedler, about sweaty and time-consuming treatments, and why he "absolutely cannot give the all-clear".
Dr. Fiedler, many Bavarian hospitals are suffering from staff shortages due to corona infections. What is the current situation in the Freising Clinic?
Like all houses in the rescue association, we are currently struggling with staff shortages - and much more so than is usual at this time of year.
However, this is not only due to corona infections, but we also have to deal with other sick leave.
Does burnout also play a role?
We have not officially reported a case.
But that doesn't mean that it doesn't exist, because the professional burden of Corona was and is enormous.
46 corona patients in the isolation ward at the same time
Are there work permits for contact persons who have not tested positive for Corona?
No, because there are no longer any contact persons in the sense that the majority of employees are boosted and therefore do not have to be in quarantine.
In addition, the protective measures are strictly observed, so that there are no close and critical contacts with the few unvaccinated either.
All employees who are currently in quarantine have also tested positive.
How much has the number of corona patients increased recently?
In January we had 46 new corona admissions, with a maximum of 13 patients in the isolation wards at the same time.
In February, the number increased again significantly.
There were 98 new corona admissions with a maximum of 30 patients in the ISO stations.
Now in March we have had 90 new corona admissions in the clinic, although we were actually dealing with 46 patients at the same time on the ISO wards.
That's almost as many as in the worst of times.
The supply creates time pressure and stress
These are drastic numbers, but they also mean that most corona patients are no longer in intensive care but in isolation wards, right?
Yes, we have the increase mainly in patients who are required to isolate and therefore had to add additional beds in two other wards in addition to the previous isolation ward.
So we have three isolation wards in operation.
On the other hand, there are currently few or no patients in the intensive care unit who have to be there because of Corona.
Can you explain why the care effort is still enormous - even if the corona cases are usually not as severe as in the delta wave?
The nursing effort is additionally increased, since particularly strict hygiene measures apply to the care of infected patients, which - by the way - also applies to other contagious diseases such as influenza.
For example, nurses and doctors have to dress in protective equipment every time they enter the patient's room.
Caring for the patient in such an outfit is of course more strenuous and sweaty.
In addition, the supply takes longer due to the additional effort and causes time pressure and stress.
(By the way: everything from the region is now also available in our regular Freising newsletter.)
What is the percentage of unvaccinated corona patients?
As of today we have 30 corona patients, 17 of whom are unvaccinated, eight are double-vaccinated and five are boosted.
But that's a snapshot, we've also had mainly vaccinated and boosted people.
But they usually get less sick – unless they have previous illnesses.
We absolutely cannot give the all-clear here.
dr
Christian Fiedler, Pandemic Officer at the Freising Clinic
And how old are these patients?
22 patients are older than 70, five are between 60 and 70 years of age, three are younger than 60.
If the staff has to continue to work at the limit, as is currently the case, what is the mood like in the hospital with regard to the fact that politicians are now relaxing the protective measures?
We absolutely cannot give the all-clear here.
That is why we in the clinic continue to rely on the obligation to wear masks and tests for visitors, tests for employees and compliance with strict hygiene measures.
Many employees are of course exhausted and also annoyed that the Corona situation is going on like this.
That's why we in the clinic continue to consider the protective measures I mentioned to be of elementary importance.