Intensive care units in Innsbruck and Hall are reaching their limits – chronicle
Clinic spokesman Johannes Schwamberger reported that on Monday they reached level seven out of seven on the internal scale. On Tuesday this was “filled up”. As of Tuesday morning, 38 Covid patients require intensive medical care in Innsbruck. That is a maximum – it has never been more. The clinic as well as the Hall hospital with six intensive care patients are finally going into crisis mode, reported the ORF Tirol.
66 Covid patients were in an intensive care unit across Tyrol, four more than the day before. The previous high in Tyrol was reached last December with 81 corona intensive care patients.
“Every measure is at the expense of non-Covid patients”
So far, the process was “completely predictable”, now you have to constantly look around for more intensive options, Schwamberger continues. Four more intensive care beds could be activated for Tuesday. Should the number of seriously ill with Covid-19 continue to rise, more recovery rooms would be converted into intensive care units. “Every measure is of course at the expense of non-Covid patients,” emphasized Schwamberger. Apart from emergencies, the supply of the population can no longer be guaranteed.
From now on, patients can no longer be guaranteed treatment other than emergencies: “Anyone waiting for an operation, such as knee or hip surgery, has to wait. We have no more beds for follow-up care,” warned Schwamberger.
“The crux of the matter is the staff”
Schwamberger reported that the nursing staff, who were already heavily burdened, would also be informed and would take care of even more patients if they were to. “The crux of the matter is the personal,” he said. The number of employees remains the same, that makes the situation “not exactly easier”.
Record: “Don’t want to end up in the intensive care unit”
Governor Günther Platter and State Health Councilor Leja (both ÖVP) visited an intensive care unit on Monday. “The situation in the Tyrolean intensive care units is really serious, capacities are scarce,” commented the state health councilor on the current situation, but nonetheless showed that she was forward-looking. So there is about “a good vote among the intensive care physicians”. “I’ll tell you quite honestly: I don’t want to end up in the intensive care unit,” said Governor Platter after the visit to the Innsbruck clinic. He again made an urgent vaccination appeal to the population.
(joi / apa)