Dramatic nursing shortage: Regensburg University Hospital restricts emergency care
Created: 11/27/2022, 2:13 p.m
By: Michael Bothner
Emergency care was restricted at the eye clinic of the Regensburg University Hospital.
© dpa
Because the nursing staff was missing, the nightly emergency service at the University Eye Clinic in Regensburg was stopped.
Just a start?
Regensburg - "No patient had to make swabs during this time." At the end of September, these were the words of Dr.
Wolfgang Bärtl, board member of the Bavarian Association of Medical Specialists.
At the Specialist Doctors' Day at the end of September in the Jahn Stadium in Regensburg, Bärtl spoke about the tremendous effort that has been made in the past almost three years, especially in the practices of the resident doctors.
"Unprepared" and "completely defenseless" one was "promoted to the frontline to deal with this pandemic".
The backs of the clinics, which were soon to be completely overburdened, were also kept free.
Eye clinic at the Regensburg University Hospital pulls the ripcord
Now, in autumn 2022, the situation seems no less dramatic.
Even if Corona has largely lost its terror, many clinics are still groaning under the burden of the pandemic and its consequences.
At the Regensburg University Hospital, a department is now pulling the rip cord.
With a catchment area of over two million inhabitants, the University Eye Clinic is an important medical provider in eastern Bavaria.
Here, too, "thanks to the great efforts of all employees" during the peak phase of the pandemic, emergency care could be maintained "without significant restrictions".
This is the conclusion of the director of the eye clinic, Dr.
Horst Helbig, in a letter to his colleagues in the practices.
Many nursing staff are reorienting themselves: this has consequences
But now we have reached a point where the "capacities for the surgical care of urgent eye patients" are no longer sufficient.
The reason: there is a lack of nursing staff.
The letter, which is available to our editorial team, confirms what has been warned about for a long time.
More and more nurses have either turned their backs on their profession completely or have seen better conditions for themselves in private clinics.
Not enough nursing staff: Regensburg University Hospital speaks of competitive pressure
dr
Isolde Schäfer, Head of Corporate Communications at the UKR, confirms the aggravated situation when asked.
As a large company, you always have to deal with a certain degree of fluctuation, explains Schäfer.
"In recent years, however, we have seen a trend towards changing employers more frequently than in the past in nursing, but also in other professions."
The reasons for this are complex and very individual.
Some nurses are looking for new challenges outside of their previous job.
On the other hand, there is a "massive poaching among the medical institutions".
Clinics are increasingly in competition with the so-called MVZs, medical care centers.
(By the way: Our brand new Regensburg newsletter will keep you regularly informed about all the important stories from the World Heritage city and the Upper Palatinate. Register here.)
The desire for part-time work and better working conditions causes nursing staff to switch jobs
In large parts of the medical profession, the care centers have a bad reputation and are regarded as profit-driven capital companies.
But for the nursing staff, the MVZs are definitely attractive.
Because there, a performance-related, above-tariff payment is often made possible and there is no need to do night and weekend shifts.
Advantages that are not denied even at the university hospital.
In addition, it is also the desire for more part-time work that Isolde Schäfer identifies as the reason for the recent high staff losses.
"The resulting vacancies are more difficult to fill today than was the case a few years ago." The labor market no longer gives enough nursing staff.
Worse than expected: care shortage in Bavaria
Regensburg University Hospital on the nursing emergency: "Cannot reverse the current development."
It is true that more and more is being invested in training.
One is glad to be able to fill the training classes so far.
Together with the St. Josef Caritas Hospital, the Regensburg Nursing Campus is operated and in 2020 we successfully switched to “general nursing training”.
However, the current development can hardly be reversed by this.
"Unfortunately, the training figures at the UKR are also adjusting to the general trend on the labor market," says Schäfer.
Just like in other sectors, the healthcare sector has to increasingly recruit staff and compete for trainees.
Nursing shortage restricts services: will other areas soon be affected?
The current acute situation at the eye clinic, it seems, could therefore soon affect other areas and possibly occur more frequently temporarily in the future.
"In particular, the employees in the nursing service will limit our performance options in the future," says Schäfer.
The UKR is therefore calling for structural changes.
For Schäfer, this starts with the financing of the health care system, "goes beyond the working conditions in medical facilities (and compared to them in other sectors) and also includes the social attitude towards social professions".
In pictures: 9 things that make Regensburg unique
View photo gallery
Emergency patients have to go to Munich and Erlangen
All of this is currently irrelevant for patient care anyway.
As the maximum medical care provider for the entire East Bavarian region, the UKR Ophthalmology Clinic and Polyclinic plays a key role in patient care.
Due to the lack of nursing staff, however, the clinic had to stop the nightly emergency service for operations on October 1st.
"Emergency patients who need an eye operation have to switch to Munich or Erlangen outside of regular working hours," explains Schäfer when asked.
"Although there is also limited capacity for additional emergencies." Everything is being done to maintain other outpatient and inpatient operations at the UKR.
All news and stories from Bavaria can now also be found on our brand new Facebook page Merkur Bayern.
