RSV crisis: Holetscheck speaks of an “absolutely exceptional situation” and calls for help to former nurses
Created: 01/12/2022, 21:01
By: Felix Herz
The RSV wave in Bavaria represents an enormous burden for the children's hospitals - above all, there is a lack of nursing staff.
Now there was an emergency meeting.
Munich – There are dramatic words that experts and politicians choose in the context of the RSV wave currently rampant in Bavaria.
Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU), for example, spoke of an “absolutely exceptional situation” on Thursday, December 1, when he met experts in child and adolescent medicine for a virtual crisis meeting.
And spoke out in favor of some far-reaching measures.
RSV wave in Bavaria: "enormous stressful situation" in children's hospitals
Bavaria is in an extremely precarious situation.
The fact is that many small children are currently infected with the RS virus (respiratory syncytial virus) - the result is a respiratory disease that is particularly dangerous for the youngest children and that can necessitate artificial ventilation (and thus intensive care beds).
It is also clear that there is a lack of intensive care beds - because there is a lack of staff to operate them.
A nationwide problem.
The RSV wave is now a serious crisis in Bavaria - Minister of Health Holetschek now advocated far-reaching measures.
(Iconic image) © ITAR-TASS / Sammy Minkoff / IMAGO / Mercury Collage
However, there is no consensus as to the reason for the latter.
In an interview with
Merkur.de
, DIVI spokeswoman Nina Meckel (DIVI = German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine) explained that the nursing staff in Bavaria had migrated mainly as a result of the ongoing overload and poor working conditions.
For Holetschek, this is one of many reasons, he lists illness and corona-related absences as another cause.
In the state parliament, the opposition therefore expressed some sharp criticism of health policy.
The current emergency situation is encountering “structural deficits that have existed for a long time,” said Ruth Waldmann (SPD), a member of parliament.
Holetschek rejected this.
The capacities in many clinics are still exhausted - and according to experts, the RSV wave could last for several weeks.
(By the way: Our Bayern newsletter informs you about all the important stories from Bavaria. Register here.)
Holetschek on RSV measures - soften the lower limit for personnel
On Thursday, there was a discussion about what could be done to get the situation under control.
"Everyone involved must act quickly to counteract the current bottlenecks in treatment," warned Holetschek.
In some cases, it could make sense to use nursing staff from adult wards, says the 58-year-old.
And: “In view of the current circumstances, the clinics also have to deviate from the lower limit for nursing staff for a limited period of time.” A controversial measure, as it would mean that the nursing staff who are currently still available are burdened more.
also read
Thanks to the start-up: 23-year-old from Regensburg in the Forbes “30 under 30” list
"Heavy snowfall" for the weekend - meteorologist talks about "real crash" in December
But that's not all.
Holetschek continues: "Conceivable measures are also to accommodate the children overnight in the day clinic." It is also important to critically examine what needs to be done immediately - and which interventions could be postponed.
Holetschek with an appeal to former nurses - and a promise
At the end, Holetschek made an appeal - addressed to nursing staff who are no longer working in this field.
"Support us!
The current RSV wave hits the professional caregivers with full force - this applies in particular to nannies!
Every additional helping hand counts,” said the Minister of Health.
Holetschek also commented on Twitter.
"We are developing a master plan for child and adolescent medicine in Bavaria," he wrote in a tweet.
In the evening he reported on the video conference on Twitter – and announced: “Every child in Bavaria is treated.”
Precarious situation in Bavaria: There is a lack of beds, monitors and devices
It remains undisputed, however, that the situation is extremely precarious.
"We're at the breaking point," said Matthias Keller, head of the Third Order Children's Hospital in Passau and Chairman of the Southern German Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.
The rooms are partly occupied twice, there would be a lack of monitors and devices for respiratory support.
"Some patient rooms are like dormitory beds, you really have to crawl over the beds to get to the sick child, because the parents' bed is next to the patient's bed," says Keller.
It is to be hoped that the measures introduced will soon have an effect.
(fhz)
All news and stories from Bavaria can now also be found on our brand new Facebook page Merkur Bayern.