“Health Billion” in Salzburg for the first time – salzburg.ORF.at
“It was and is important to me that we have top-quality supplies in all regions. There is therefore a clear commitment to regional hospitals such as Mittersill (Pinzgau) and Tamsweg (Lungau). We recognized the importance of this even before the pandemic. The last two years have made it clear once again that every cent is worth it here, ”said Deputy Governor Christian Stöckl from the ÖVP.
Stöckl: “It’s not just the number of beds that is important”
The doubling of the number of outpatient services in hospitals, especially in the area of chemotherapy, from 3.6 million to 7.3 million in the years 2017 to 2019 represents a slight decrease in the number of beds (2015: 3,421; 2020: 3,206 ), this is also a requirement of the Austrian Health Structure Plan. “The system has changed from the ground up,” explains Stöckl. “It is a wrong approach to evaluate the supply according to the number of beds. Because the outpatient services – including those that do not require bed occupancy with an overnight stay – have increased significantly. “
The workforce increases
There was also an increase in staff. From 2015 to 2020 the number of full-time equivalents will increase from 7,521 to 7,968. The number of graduates in the nursing sector could even be quickly doubled in ten years. In 2010 there were 352, in the previous year it was 658. And 833 men and women started their training alone.
Care platform will participate
According to the health officer, Salzburg is actively counteracting the shortage of skilled workers in the care sector, including part of the investments in the health system. “We are continuing the non-partisan care platform, 75 million are earmarked for this at short notice and some have already been invested in specific projects,” said Stöckl, and he assures us. “This endeavor to create additional apprenticeship positions remains the focus and WILL be promoted in cooperation with health and educational institutions.”
Expansion of nursing training
Arousing interest in nursing training, providing information and offering regional opportunities are goals that are already being intensively implemented. “While 352 people completed nursing training in Salzburg in 2010, by 2020 there were already 658 who qualified for caring for and caring for people,” says Stöckl.
More places at the university of applied sciences
With an amendment to the Health and Nursing Act in 2016, it was determined that the upper level of care SHOULD be academic. The State of Salzburg has therefore been able to quadruple the number of study places at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences since the beginning of the training there – exactly from 40 additional training positions to 160 with a training location in Schwarzach im Pongau. Work is underway to further expand the number of study places.
Lateral entrants are in demand
In addition, in cooperation with the Chamber of Labor at the BFI, a course was started again in autumn after the diploma training old. This appeals to so-called lateral entrants who can earn a living with scholarships and grants despite their training. The framework conditions are also being continuously improved in other areas, for example through an internship allowance for students at the university of applied sciences.
Comprehensive information
The state’s “This is strong!” Care campaign aims to motivate and inform. “Faces” of the industry tell and report about their tasks and training – on an equal footing and without glossing over anything, because “the job is demanding and sometimes tough. But many report just as enriching and safe. We would like to say and show that to the people of Salzburg together with the testimonials, ”said Stöckl.