The situation at the LSMU Kaunas Hospital is critical: some operations are suspended, voluntary help is requested

In the absence of doctors, surgeries stop when doctors are sick

With the particularly rapid increase in the number of people with COVID-19, there are grim predictions that other patients will suffer as doctors experience extremely heavy workloads.

In a report released Tuesday, LSMU Kaunas Hospital, which receives patients with the new virus, claims that some planned surgeries are already being stopped due to lack of doctors.

“Every day we face a challenge in the fight against COVID-19. Our doctors are already working beyond their capacities and must strengthen the staff of the Department of Infectious Diseases of other departments. And that means reducing other medical services.

Due to COVID-19, 32 of our employees are unable to work and around 100 in self-isolation.
Consequently, it is already necessary to join the fight against the pandemic and other medical institutions ”, announces the LSMU Kaunas Hospital.

Tired doctors ask for voluntary help

The current situation in one of the largest hospitals in the country with a flow of COVID-19 patients is illustrated by the public discourse of its representatives. If doctors can’t see all patients, volunteers are already being asked for help.

“Volunteer forces are badly needed in LSMU Kaunas Hospital infectious disease department, emergency departments.

The help of volunteers at the limit of human capacities for our hospital’s balanced medical staff, working in the busiest departments, would be a huge boost, “said the hospital’s Facebook account.

According to Saulius Tvirbutas, spokesperson for LSMU Kaunas Hospital, the volunteers, who have already expressed their desire to become 19 people, would work as nursing assistants. The main criterion is that the applicants do not belong to the risk group.

“The main work of the volunteers is caring for the patient: feeding, washing, assisting in movement, lifting, transporting, assisting the nursing staff in performing procedures. It would be great if the volunteer could work as a team, have communication skills, be responsible and supportive.

We are a hospital with one of the largest COVID-19 patient populations in the country. We are eager for voluntary help, which both our staff and patients need, “says the hospital.

5 boys and 14 girls have already expressed their desire to volunteer in the top positions, according to data from Wednesday. 10 of them study medical nursing, are willing to volunteer on weekends, after work or at night.

All seats in Covidean resuscitation are already taken

According to hospital spokesman Saulius Tvirbutas, that limit was reached when it became clear that without the help of other medical institutions it would be difficult to survive.

“Strengthening the team of the Department of Infectious Diseases since the beginning of November in Kaunas, the unit on Josvainių Street will not carry out planned operations of urology, surgery, gynecology, only urgent surgical assistance will be provided.

The scheduled surgery services remain in the units of the LSMU Kaunas Hospital, located on Hipodromo Street and Laisvės Alley ”, said S. Tvirbutas.

According to data on Tuesday, 106 COVID-19 patients are being treated at LSMU Kaunas Hospital, 52 of them need oxygen masks.

The hospital reported that all 6 beds in the intensive care unit for coronavirus patients were already occupied on Tuesday.

Kaunas clinics accept only the most seriously ill patients

Since the doctors at the LSMU Kaunas Hospital experience a heavy workload, there is talk that a part of the patients with COVID-19 could be admitted to the LSMU Kaunas Clinic.

According to the representative of this institution Eglė Queen, people suffering from the new virus in the Kaunas clinics are being treated and the most serious patients are being admitted.

“In the Kaunas clinics, 20 COVID-19 resuscitation beds were formed for patients with COVID-19 and other more complex diseases that require specialized assistance (oncology, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, etc.) or require artificial lung ventilation,” he said LSMU Kaunas Clinics. spokesperson E. Queen.

Patients are admitted to Jurbarkas and Marijampolė

The Kaunas Clinic, as an institution that organizes the treatment of patients with COVID-19 disease in the Kaunas region, has already requested regional hospitals to reorganize work and establish additional beds for COVID-19 patients.

Following this decision, the number of beds at LSMU Kaunas Hospital was increased from 100 to 130. After the quarantine was announced in Marijampolė and Jurbarkas counties, 30 beds were established in Marijampolė and 20 beds in Jurbarkas for COVID patients -19.

After assessing the severity of COVID-19 patients, their distribution in various parts of the Kaunas region, we will decide which hospitals to increase the number of COVID-19 beds, as well as reduce scheduled services, vacate necessary facilities and use professionals. healthcare providers that have previously provided scheduled assistance. patients with other diseases, ”said E. Karalienė, spokesperson for LSMU Kaunas Clinics.