Every 3rd bed blocked – patient care at nearest hospital at risk

Meanwhile, hardly a month goes by when a hospital worker’s report doesn’t make its way to the public. As evidenced by internal emails received by the “Krone”, a “danger report for the entire Ottakring Clinic department” was decided upon (see facsimile below). Reason: The limits of resilience have been exceeded for the staff. And that over a long period of time. Talks with the employer would have brought no improvement, it is said. On the contrary.

Staff cannot be held responsible
“It is our legal duty to inform that potentially dangerous situations may arise. Our employees cannot be held liable for this,” says personnel representative Christopher Scepka. The service committee argues for more posts, roster security, reduction of overtime and holidays. Because all professions in the hospital are affected.

Every third bed had to be blocked already
Two days after the ad was sent, there was a meeting with the heads of the health association. “A third of the clinic’s beds are now closed. But the big hit has not been there so far,” says Scepka. The system would not be sustainable without the excellent work of the staff. A doctor also confirms this: “The burden is so great now. You don’t like going to work anymore .”

In the past few months alone, numerous employees have left the clinic. Due to unbearable circumstances. Many see going public as a last resort.

Minutes show the desperate plight of nurses and doctors
In February of this year, the “Krone” received the first overload protocol. In the orthopedic hospital in Vienna-Speising, the operating area was particularly affected: too few operating assistants and qualified personnel during operations and a staff member who is not yet fully trained only receives an intern. The report caused a stir and the employees were muzzled.

Cries for help also from clinics in Floridsdorf and Favoriten
Just a week later, the next cry for help came: logs from the Floridsdorf clinic. It describes intolerable conditions: faulty monitors, unsanitary conditions, patients who have to sober up and wait for hours in front of the operating room, and employees who are not adequately trained. A few days ago, the “Krone” finally received information about a hazard report from the urology department of the Favoriten clinic. The problem: adequate care for, among others, tumor patients. One thing is clear: in the city hospitals there is a lot of trouble. Solutions are needed.

“Apparently countless threat reports are being covered up. (SPÖ councilor for health Peter) Hacker and the board of directors must resign,” demands FPÖ leader Dominik Nepp. Criticism also comes from the ÖVP: “It is high time that action was taken here,” says health spokesman Ingrid Korosec. The Vienna Health Association declined to comment.