Sharp criticism of Lauterbach's reform plans: action group warns of "massive wave of closures in Bavaria"
Created: 05/12/2022 17:59
By: Felix Herz
Lauterbach's plans to relieve the burden on clinics have met with widespread criticism.
It's not a matter of if - but of how.
Many experts warn against the course.
Munich – Hospitals, doctors and nurses are not quiet these days.
How, one might ask, is there a great deal in a mess.
The RSV wave in particular is currently pushing children's hospitals in Bavaria to their breaking point and prompting doctors to call for help.
The causes are varied, but often lie in the lack of nursing professionals.
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) now wants to take action against this – but his plans now seem to be the next crisis issue.
Because they are met with widespread criticism from experts and doctors.
Lauterbach's hospital plans under criticism: action group with massive criticism
In order to relieve hospitals and nursing staff, Lauterbach is planning new regulations which, among other things, should result in more frequent outpatient treatment of patients - this will also relieve nursing staff, according to the plan.
Because if patients are only treated on site during the day and there is no overnight care, there is less need for the night and marginal shifts that nurses dislike.
So much for the theory of the Federal Minister of Health - but the plans are sometimes met with massive criticism.
Lauterbach is under criticism.
His plan to relieve hospitals is met with resistance from many experts (symbol image).
© Christian Spicker / IMAGO
Among others, the statutory health insurance companies and the German Foundation for Patient Protection are critical of the reform project.
Now the action group “End hospital deaths in Bavaria” has also spoken out.
In a press release from December 4th, it is stated that "the legal regulations passed on December 1st, 2022 for increased outpatient instead of inpatient treatment so far" are being criticized in the strongest possible way.
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"No more hospital deaths in Bavaria" action group against Lauterbach's reform plans
With regard to the new flat-rate key, Klaus Emmerich, retired clinic director, writes in the press release: "It's a bureaucracy monster that doesn't relieve clinical specialists, but puts a lot of strain on them." The background is that from January, clinics will be offering treatments for which it is medically justifiable , also to be carried out on an outpatient basis in the future instead of inpatient.
Aerzteblatt.de
sums up the main points of criticism
at issue here, above all, is the remuneration, which, as a result of special calculations, leads to more bureaucratic work, as well as the purpose of the incentives set .
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But that's not all.
dr
Rainer Hoffmann, retired chief physician, writes: "We would also like to emphasize that Lauterbach's statements regarding the 'relief of the nursing staff through the outpatient provision of inpatient services' are at best not well thought out".
The nursing budget of the hospitals would be reduced as a result - and staff would also be cut.
Dramatic final appeal: "The comprehensive clinical care is at stake"
Willi Dürr, team spokesman for the "Catholic Workers' Movement" (KAB), warns against job cuts and closures in Bavarian hospitals due to the lower case flat rate remuneration.
Therefore, the press release also ends with an appeal: "The action group to stop hospital deaths in Bavaria calls on all clinical associations in Bavaria to intervene here so that the statutory regulations on outpatient treatment in hospitals are reintroduced.
Comprehensive clinical care in Bavaria is at stake."
(fhz)
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