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When staff at the Åkerhus nursing home in Frölunda, west Gothenburg, realized that COVID-19 had entered the premises and threatened residents, they took a position that was in many ways unpopular.
Eight months later, assistant nurse and safety representative Elizabeth Laursen can recall measures that may have saved human lives and created some security in the fight against the second wave of the virus.
– All of us who work in house C fight a lot to separate the healthy from the sick, because the virus spreads very quickly between houses. It was common sense, you cannot run from one place to another in the house between healthy and sick, we agreed on that although we did not know much about the pandemic.
The Government and the Public Health Agency has been criticized for its handling of the corona pandemic, where the deaths of several thousand in Sweden, with a majority of older people, are far more than those of our neighbors. One of the main reasons for the many deaths is related to infection entering the country’s nursing homes, and when the Corona Commission released its first interim report on handling the pandemic, staff were singled out as a risk factor. important behind the wide spread of covid-19 among older people in the Västra Götaland region.
The decision to close ward C in Åkerhus, where many of the residents suffer from dementia, was not an easy one, according to Elizabeth Laursen. They felt pressure from management who wanted to fill in the gaps in the staffing schedule, but also from colleagues in the other departments who couldn’t get enough reinforcement.
– We opposed helping in the sick pavilions, but we also gave up all substitutes for them. We received a lot of criticism, but we also managed the first wave without falling. All of this led, at least I think, to saving many lives by standing our ground.
– The other two departments wanted the rescue of the day and that we would come to help and I understand how they thought, but at the same time common sense said no. If we do get the infection, we have to isolate ourselves so that the other departments don’t get it.
“We got a lot of criticism, but we also got the first wave without going down,” says Elizabeth Laursen.
Photo: Veronika Ljung-Nielsen
But staff shortages also prevailed in pavilion C. Since the staff did not move between the houses, they were forced to work double shifts and work out their schedules to make it work.
– It was said that “we do not help”. No we didn’t, but we were also short-staffed and went double shifts because we don’t accept substitutes. We decided that we can fend for ourselves, but don’t come here with any infection.
According to Elizabeth Laursen, there was an early misconception that the threat from the new coronavirus would be less than it actually is.
– The employer only makes sure that there are staff everywhere. We feel that many in management tried to downplay the dangers a bit by saying that “the vast majority get by and it’s not that contagious.” It has been retrospectively shown to be a dangerous disease that spreads very easily.
In November he was awarded Elizabeth Laursen awarded this year’s safety representative in the LO district of western Sweden for her efforts during the spring.
– I was very surprised and very surprised. I’ve received great nominations from my peers and a lot of support, so thanks to them, I can barely take in how great it is.
During the winter, infection rates have increased again in many parts of the country. Elizabeth Laursen says she hopes elder care has learned from what happened this spring.
– There are new waves and we are not out of danger yet. But today is a different situation because now there are protective equipment. Right now we don’t have any infection in the house, but we realize it can come in at any time because both staff and visitors can bring the infection so you never know, I hope you learned something from the first wave.
