On the occasion of Nursing Day on May 12, the health association calls for measures to tackle the staff shortage.
The word should have been out by now: the human and financial demands on the healthcare system are increasing as a result of demographic changes, and at the same time, workers in individual areas are leaving en masse due to poor working conditions.
There is no relaxation in sight, on the contrary, as Thomas Steurer, state chairman of the healthcare union GÖD and the central works council of LKH, emphasizes: “Nursing is facing a large wave of retirements – and care can now only be provided with a large number of overtime and substitute shifts must be maintained!”
Politics of stagnation
The lack of ability to plan recovery phases, free time and family life has not changed since the nurses’ last outcry a few years ago. The consequences of this downtime policy are fatal: “Frustration among employees has already reached its limit. The federal government has failed again with the much-vaunted health care reform. That is why measures are necessary to retain the remaining colleagues.”
A devastating vicious circle
The understaffing affects all parts of the healthcare system: in addition to hospitals, nursing homes also face major staffing problems and the support of mobile services for care within their own four walls is also inadequate. “Because there is a shortage of staff everywhere, patients who could actually be discharged have to be cared for longer in the hospital. “This places a double or triple burden on the staff,” says Steurer, outlining a fatal vicious circle.
The employee representative calls for immediate measures to make the nursing profession more attractive: “This can be achieved on the one hand through higher salaries and on the other hand by improving general conditions.” budget for employees, special models for older workers, etc. Corporate housing and expansion of corporate kindergartens. “The shortage of skilled workers puts us in huge competition with the private sector. That is why we should consider financially compensating the training – as with police students.” What Steuer doesn’t want to hear on Care Day: empty words and the usual praise – “that’s almost unbearable!”
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
