Corona: The situation at Inselspital Bern is precarious – the staff is “worn out”

The situation at Inselspital Bern is also precarious: the staff is “worn out”

At the Inselspital in Bern, 90 percent of the capacity of the intensive care unit is exhausted. Therefore, doctors and nurses are very concerned about the increasing number of Covid infections.

“It would affect us in the long run if the number of infections continued to rise,” Stephan Jakob, chief physician of intensive care at Insel Group, said Wednesday in a media talk with the Keystone-SDA news agency. Intensive care units feel the increase within two to three weeks.

But according to Jakob, the situation is already fragile:

With these additional beds, 90 percent of the corresponding capacities are exhausted.

The director of the clinic said he was still about to be handled. But if sports accidents add to the growing number of Covid cases, “then it will be very close.” 70 percent of admissions to the island are emergencies, “including the first ski accidents.”

Jakob points out the large area of ​​influence of the Bern University Hospital: patients also come to the Bern University Hospital from the cantons of Friborg, Solothurn, Neuchâtel and Upper Valais.

More patients per caregiver

The nursing staff is also at the stop. Typically, a nurse cares for a patient in the intensive care unit. But instead of 1: 1, the ratio is now 1: 4. A nurse must care for up to four seriously ill patients.

The staff is supported by auxiliary staff. But these must be trained and accompanied. “It’s a big burden,” says Jakob. For their part, the specialists work in a cycle of two shifts, each 13.5 hours a day, and they have been doing it for three or four months.

“Every additional patient challenges this system even more,” says the intensive care physician. “We have twice the mortality among Covid patients today compared to the spring.” There are several reasons for this, “but we cannot rule out the possibility that the quality is worse because there are fewer trained personnel for the patient.”

For Jakob, therefore, it is clear that the crown’s measures must be “stricter,” as the federal scientific task force called for on Tuesday.

15 percent of staff are absent

In an interview with Keystone-SDA, Petra Fuchs, Chief Nursing Officer at the Emergency Center, speaks of a “good team spirit” among the staff. “But I notice that people are slowly wearing thin.” Fifteen percent of staff are absent, either because they themselves are ill, quarantined, or absent for other reasons.

That’s a lot, says Fuchs, “because we don’t have reservations in the position plan.” Faults will be borne by the rest of the team. As a precautionary measure, Fuchs has scheduled an additional person for the vacation to compensate for the staff losses.

Because especially at Christmas and New Years, when most doctor’s offices close, Inselspital’s rush for emergencies is particularly great. “We have an obligation to accept and we cannot reject anyone.”

In addition to staff shortages, Fuchs’ biggest concern is the lack of beds. “There are ambulances and we have to find a bed for all the patients.” She hopes and counts on every citizen to act responsibly during the festive season and also to observe protective measures in private circles. (sierra / sda)