Care in Styria: Shaping the future or continuing in the crisis?

Care in Styria: Shaping the future or continuing in the crisis?

In Styria, the issue of “health” is becoming the focus of political negotiations between the FPÖ and ÖVP. The Health and Nursing Association (ÖGKV) is committed to “sustainably strengthening care” with ten formulated measures. Thomas Windhaber, spokesman for the ÖGKV, warns of the serious effects that restricting the health discussion to acute medicine could only have in the inpatient area. He emphasizes that nursing staff often demonstrate silently by giving up their jobs, which could lead to a severe shortage of skilled workers not only acutely but also in the long term steiermark.orf.at reports.

In addition, the problem is reflected in the entire healthcare system, where many challenges such as demographic change and financial restrictions had to be overcome even before the corona pandemic. According to an article by dgq.de The shortage of skilled workers is partly due to the negative role image and the low attractiveness of nursing professions. While organizations that implement the so-called magnet concept are more easily stable in terms of personnel, other institutions show acute personnel shortages. The Magnet Model highlights how empowering nurses can improve the situation. There is a chance that nursing staff will be given more freedom of action and responsibility, which will directly lead to a higher level of identification with their profession.

Another critical point in the discussion is the importance of further training. This is essential to motivate and retain nursing staff in the long term. Windhaber is calling on politicians to take measures that improve both working conditions and training in nursing. The use of modern technologies and artificial intelligence could make a decisive contribution to relieving the burden on nursing staff. Without these political and structural changes, the quality of healthcare in Styria will be at risk, and the attractiveness of the nursing profession will also suffer.