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You’re on the edge: “We’re afraid the nursing staff can’t take much longer,” says Yvonne Ribi (44) of the Association of Women and Men Nurses (SBK). You cannot predict exactly when the limit will be reached. But it’s only about “weeks and not months.” Because the situation is currently deteriorating dramatically.
Warning call to politics
In a letter that VIEW has, the care association asks the Federal Council and all cantonal governments for help. “Many nurses have already reached the end of their bonds.” If nothing happens, there is a risk that the healthcare system will soon be “overwhelmed and overloaded.”
The Minister of Health, Alain Berset (48), personally confirms the dramatic situation: he has recently been in several hospitals. “In March, the medical staff received applause. But: the situation is much worse now. Now these people are walking on their gums, “he said Thursday in the BLICK interview.
The consequence of this seems clear. “People no longer get the care they really need,” says Ribi. That leads to human suffering and even more deaths. And Switzerland currently has around 80 deaths per day.
Contact only by phone
“For care to survive the next few weeks, every effort must now be made to reduce the number of cases,” says the SBK manager. Simple, clear and national uniform measures are needed. And here the care association already has specific demands on politicians:
- The population should be instructed to only communicate with people who do not live in the same household by phone or videoconference.
- Hospitals, nursing homes, and retirement homes must coordinate their employees at the local, regional and national levels.
- Additional nursing staff should be made available for overburdened institutions.
- Caregivers should be supported by community service, civil defense and, if necessary, the military.
- Hospitals should receive financial compensation for postponing or canceling operations..
Today, the Federal Council is debating the tightening of the crown rules, which should take effect on Saturday. There are plans to close restaurants after 7 p.m. or a five-person limit for private gatherings. If the situation does not improve, the government is even considering a shutdown before Christmas.
Older people are alone
“One thing is clear: the corona crisis is not just a major burden for caregivers who work overtime and often get infected with the virus,” says Ribi. For months, the elderly in the nursing homes had suffered from not being able to see their loved ones. Many also felt the physical restrictions because they are barely allowed to move.
Also, there is a shortage of nursing staff, especially in the second wave. “Parliament recognized the problem, but there are still no solutions,” says Ribi. Especially in the care of seriously ill people, in the so-called palliative care, the few caregivers today hardly have time to accompany people in their death.
