Deputy Medical Director in Salzburg: The problem is not beds, but a lack of staff
In two weeks, the number of patients at the Cardinal Schwarzenberg Clinic in Schwarzach in Salzburg’s Pongau region would have to triple, says its deputy medical director Josef Riedler in an interview with PULS 24. Nevertheless, the situation is not as critical as in the state clinics, where a triage team had to be deployed. Patients would be taken on from there almost every day in order to relieve the other hospitals.
In Schwarzach, seven Covid intensive care patients are currently being looked after, and in the next level they are increasing to ten that men can ventilate on site. Triage is not yet necessary, but 30 beds were closed last week. If you reach the next level of the expansion plan, ten more would be on it. Riedler expects that the coming week will be so far.
Personal problem for years
The “normal” beds must be closed in order to release nurses for Covid patient care. It’s not about beds per se, but always about the staff. According to the doctor, the problem has been “for years”: “We have mastered this well so far, but now with Covid it is no longer possible.” The main problem is currently the bottleneck in the adult intensive care unit.
The 5-step plan that Governor Wilfried Haslauer presented on Tuesday was “very useful” according to Riedler. Riedler particularly emphasizes the announced reallocation of a rehab clinic that Haslauer has announced. This alternative, he hoped, would result in significant relief.
The good cooperation between the hospitals in Salzburg is a great advantage. You govern flexibly and manage to compensate for overcrowding between the houses in a short time. There is great willingness to help and great cohesion.