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Hospital again bans visitors

2022-09-30T18:12:16.910Z


Hospital again bans visitors Created: 09/30/2022, 20:02 By: Peter Schiebel It's not about cramming any rules. We need to increase security to stay functional. Prof. Florian Krötz, Chief Physician at the Starnberg Clinic © SABINE JAKOBS Massive staff shortages, operations canceled or postponed, two dozen corona-positive patients in normal wards - the Starnberg Clinic is currently groaning under


Hospital again bans visitors

Created: 09/30/2022, 20:02

By: Peter Schiebel

It's not about cramming any rules.

We need to increase security to stay functional.

Prof. Florian Krötz, Chief Physician at the Starnberg Clinic © SABINE JAKOBS

Massive staff shortages, operations canceled or postponed, two dozen corona-positive patients in normal wards - the Starnberg Clinic is currently groaning under the weight of the pandemic like in times long thought to have been forgotten.

That's why a general ban on visits has been in effect since Friday.

Starnberg

– When the Starnberger Merkur reached the chief physician of the Starnberg Clinic, Prof. Florian Krötz, and managing director Heiner Kelbel on the phone on Friday morning, the two were just brooding over the roster for the long weekend.

In two departments it is not yet certain whether there are enough medical staff for Saturday, Sunday and the public holiday on Monday, says Kelbel, but is confident that a solution will be found.

The situation in the clinic has worsened dramatically in recent weeks, especially since the start of the Munich Oktoberfest.

Around 25 to 30 percent of doctors and nurses are currently ill or have tested positive for the corona virus, says Kelbel.

In addition, 24 patients in normal wards were corona-positive on Friday, including numerous patients from homes in need of care.

"But the number can change quickly," explains Chief Physician Krötz.

Due to the rapid development, the clinic has now pulled the emergency brake.

A general ban on visits has been in effect again since Friday – in order to be able to maintain operations.

Exceptions only apply to the children's ward, obstetrics and the palliative care ward.

One visitor per patient per day is usually allowed there.

In the case of particularly seriously ill patients, there may be more in individual cases.

The rule had already applied for around two years during the pandemic before the clinic relaxed it after the Pentecost holidays due to a general relaxation.

According to official information from the Robert Koch Institute, this incidence was 861.4 yesterday – but in fact it is four times as high, Krötz believes.

"It wouldn't surprise me if the real incidence were as high as it has never been before." Because only positive PCR tests are included in the official figures.

For the most part, however, PCR tests are only carried out in health care facilities.

In the clinic, for example, there is still a mandatory test for employees and patients.

Most other people would only do a quick test if they had symptoms or for other reasons, which would neither be included in the statistics nor be above-average reliable.

Krötz describes the consequences for the clinic as follows: A previously negative patient receives a visit.

This visitor wears a mask in the corridors as required, but takes it off in the room.

He is positive without knowing it and is now infecting his relatives and subsequently the staff.

Another example: “Somebody goes to the Wiesn on Sunday.

On Tuesday he breaks his arm.

It's still negative when it's admitted, but it's not anymore two days later."

The Oktoberfest in general: Krötz and Kelbel can understand that people want to party again.

Clinic employees have also been to the Wiesn.

But: "It's a complete gamble," says Krötz.

"It may be that the disease changes again and there are other variants that again have more severe courses." Incidentally, the clinic managers do not want to upset anyone with their ban on visits.

"It's not about cramming through any rules," emphasizes the doctor.

"We have to increase security to remain functional."

For this reason, operations that are not absolutely necessary are being postponed again and patients are only kept in the hospital for as short a time as necessary.

Some beds can generally no longer be occupied.

"Our staff walks on the gums," says Managing Director Kelbel.

And a lasting improvement in the personnel situation is not in sight, even if sick leave were to decrease again.

"During the two and a half years of the pandemic, we lost employees who gave up."

"There is no more corona in public," says Florian Krötz.

In the clinics, however, the virus is currently leading to dramatic situations.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-09-30

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