Previously overcrowded nursing hospitals are now temporarily closing their doors: fewer patients than staff

The mayor sees this case for the first time

From July to September 1, this institution closed its doors, there are no more patients. Only about 10 people were hospitalized before the suspension. After calculating the costs, it was decided that keeping hospitals with such a large number of patients open was simply not worth it.

So some were discharged at home and others were transferred to the nearest nursing hospitals. At that time, employees were spending vacations or moving for summer work to other nearby institutions.

The mayor of the Panevėžys district, Povilas Žagunis, says that this case, when a nursing hospital is emptied and thus temporarily closed, occurs for the first time during his long years of work.

“During my long working hours, there has never been a case where there is no need to enter a nursing hospital. Perhaps the elderly were no longer arriving at the hospital due to the pandemic, perhaps they are afraid, perhaps their relatives are in a nursing home and receive benefits. But in our case, there are not enough people to be cared for there, ”said the mayor.

Supportive care and nursing hospitals of the same profile in the Panevėžys district are located in two more cities: Ramygala and Naujamiestis. It was to these hospitals that all the patients lying in Krekenava were transferred.

“There were vacancies in the three hospitals. If there were enough patients to need treatment in Krekenava, we could reopen the hospital at any time, find the staff and whatever we need. Recently, only 5-6 people stayed in the Krekenava Hospital. More patients show up there before winter. And now we have stopped the hospital work for only two months, if there are people, we will start working at full speed in September, ”said P. Žagunis.

The mayor emphasizes that the desire to maintain the hospital alone is not enough, because it is also very important to calculate the budget. According to the interlocutor, the hospital exists and provides services charged to the sickness funds. And the latter spend € 40 a day on patient care in a nursing home.

“Imagine if, for so much money, several patients need to support the entire operation of a hospital when there are other hospitals nearby at that time. Of course, people would also like the service to be provided to only one person, ”said P. Žagunis.

He does not rule out the possibility that hospitals will have to reorganize in the future

According to Antanas Pocius, deputy mayor of the Panevėžys district municipality, the number of patients has been decreasing since the beginning of the pandemic.

“It just came to our knowledge then. Little by little, hospitals stopped filling up. Although society seems to be aging and grandparents should increase. Perhaps the people themselves no longer want it,” says A. Pocius.

The deputy mayor remembers that it was not possible to reach the nursing hospitals so easily at all times, he had to queue. However, the number of patients always increased at the beginning of the cold season – you can stay in a nursing home for 4 months free of charge. So the elders spent the winter there.

However, not all Krekenavis are satisfied with such a decision.

“I understand that if people were angry that we closed the hospital and left them to their own devices. But we all moved. All of our nursing hospitals are well equipped, in excellent condition, no matter where. As a result, I was surprised that some were dissatisfied. All the more from Krekenava to Ramygala up to 15 km, and to Naujamiestis – 17 km.

We are not talking about closings yet. Of course, if there are no patients in the future, we will have to do something, we may have to reorganize the activities of the hospitals, “said A. Pocius.

The interlocutor mentioned that there was a shortage not only of patients but also of doctors. Although, according to A. Pocius, 5,000 euros are offered to a doctor “on paper”, it still does not attract the towns, especially if it is further away from the city. So when a doctor comes to pick you up, it’s a real headache.

Temporary closure prevents even bigger losses

As the Sekundė portal previously wrote, Neringa Šinkūnienė, director of the Panevėžys District Municipality Polyclinic, is shocked by the outbreak and calls the complaints a “bubble burst in an empty space”.

“We have three hospitals for nursing and supportive treatment in the Panevėžys district: in Krekenava, Ramygala and Naujamiestis. They are all half empty. Only six patients remained in Krekenava during the summer. The sickness fund pays about 40 euros per person per person. It is not difficult to calculate that the institution would receive 240 euros per day for all patients. This is very little, because it is necessary to maintain these patients: it costs food, medicine and care. And the staff, who have worked constantly during the quarantine, also want a vacation, ”explains N. Šinkūnienė.

According to N. Šinkūnienė, most of the Krekenava Hospital employees will be on vacation in the summer and employees will also be able to choose where to work temporarily in Naujamiestis or Ramygala.

“It just came to our notice then. The nurses and their assistants work around the clock, what’s the problem here twice a week? No employee will be laid off and there is no talk of downtime. We are already short staffed. People pick up the wind in an empty place, “N. Šinkūnien dijo told Sekundei.

According to the Sekundė portal, the Krekenava Nursing and Supportive Treatment Hospital has a doctor, she also works in the Krekenava outpatient clinic and six nurses along with nursing assistants, as well as a chef.

According to N. Šinkūnienė, closing the hospital in the summer by transferring patients and spending the team on vacation is a salvation from the losses that led to the institution’s bankruptcy.

Decide how to reorganize health facilities

Jurgita Sejonienė, a member of the Health Affairs Committee of the Seimas and the Lithuanian Medical Movement, affirms that he has not heard more cases of this type, when due to the lack of patients he has to temporarily close the doors of a medical institution. However, the interlocutors are not surprised, since the need for some medical services is different, it depends on both the municipality and the season.

“There is no level playing field with nursing services in all of Lithuania. There are places where they are missing and where they are not needed during the summer. The greatest demand is in the big cities. Nursing services are also known to have seasonality, in the winter months people who feel lonely more often go to nursing hospitals and spend 4 months off there, ”said J. Sejonienė.

The interlocutor mentioned that on Wednesday, the Health Committee had just discussed the problems of the hospitals and decided how to change it. According to her, efforts will be made to make health services more integrated and respond to real needs.

For example, it will be decided how to extend the 4-month period paid by health insurance funds to more serious patients in nursing hospitals, since many times they are not enough. And some patients need even more outpatient care.

“I believe that these institutions will have a great opportunity to adapt and reorganize their activities according to the needs of the patients. The ministry is certainly not going to close the offices and this is often emphasized. Yes, they need to reorganize and begin to provide the services that the population needs, as well as for the institution to survive on its own. The fact that some things must change in the system. However, there is still a long way to go for analysis and consultation. I really know that there will be no forced model, ”said a member of the Seimas.

J. Sejonienė emphasized that such a situation, when due to lack of patients has to close the hospital, it is certainly not normal and should not be. In addition, the institutions that generate losses are a burden both for the municipalities and for the state budget.

“After all, employees must be guaranteed a solid job, they need to know that they will have a job and an income. The nursing home often has a shortage of nurses, and it takes good working conditions and a motivating salary to make them want to work there. If a person does not know if they will have a job in the summer months, they will definitely not want to work there, “said J. Sejonienė, adding that due to these reasons, health institutions need a reorganization.