Fight against the nursing emergency: children's clinics at the limit!

Fight against the nursing emergency: children's clinics at the limit!

The alarming situation in psychiatric care in Austria and Germany is becoming increasingly critical. Studies prove a decline in mental health, especially in children and adolescents, as a result of factors such as pandemic and social media. The Austrian structural plan Health aims to improve psychiatric care and to create outpatient care places in particular. But the reality looks different: up to 29 percent of the specialist planning positions are vacant, as reported to the Kleine Zeitung . As of December 1, 2024, only about 85 percent of outpatient and 92 percent of inpatient care capacities were available in Upper Austria. As a result, patients often have to stay in the hospital longer, since there are no connection offers after discharge. Difficulties in closing the personality indicate a medium -term deterioration in the situation.

The situation in German children's clinics is similarly threatening, where the lack of nursing staff and doctors bring acute challenges. The head of children's clinic I in Essen, Ursula Felderhoff-Müser, comments concerned about the current capacity bottlenecks. "We have big problems getting all the children," she emphasizes. A report by according to the question of survey were only 65 percent of the intensive care beds available for children. Critical cases in particular often have to be moved to other hospitals, which means additional stress for parents and children. According to Bernhard Hoch, managing director of the company of the children's hospitals, the shortage of care is so dramatic that in some cases children can only be supplied temporarily at home.