Doctors are calling for caution, as the Slovenian health care system is close to collapse
STA, 9 November 2021 – Slovenian medical organizations have urged citizens not to do their best not to avoid emergency medical care in the next month or two and to warn that the health care system will be on the verge of collapse.
The pressure of patients with covid on the health care system is so great that patients are currently unable to get some of the services that were available earlier, it was heard at a press conference after a meeting of medical organizations on Tuesday.
Next week, the situation is expected to worsen so that doctors at critical points in the system would simultaneously care for two patients who need a ventilator, as there would not be enough staff to help such patients or suitable beds, Igor said. Dovnik, head of the Association of Private Doctors and Dentists.
Bojana Beović, head of the Medical Chamber, could not rule out the possibility that doctors would have to decide who will receive intensive care, which, according to her, is one of the most difficult things that can happen to a doctor.
She said the staff shortage is severe. At this point, the entire staff has been mobilized to deploy where it is urgently needed, especially intensive care units that need highly trained staff. Despite all efforts to ensure an adequate level of care, capacity is already stretched.
“This is an alarming situation that we can deal with with the maximum solidarity of all health professionals on the one hand and the solidarity of people on the other who will understand the situation and contribute to making the situation manageable in some way,” Beovic said.
“Life is open, there are traffic accidents, accidents at work, other infections,” she said, noting that the volume of work is greater than a year ago when the country was closed. “If we want a normal life, to keep schools open, the economy, we have to be aware that it has a price. We have to carry out all activities so that this price will not be too high.”
Organizations, including a union of doctors and dentists, have urged everyone to do their best not to need medical attention for the next month or two, including avoiding situations or activities that could cause injuries such as sports or reckless driving or risk to get any infection.
Dovnik called on all those who have not yet been vaccinated against Covid-19 to do so, and also recommended vaccination against influenza. “I don’t think we could be that lucky to avoid the flu for two years in a row,” he said.