Numbers that make you listen: Complaints about clinic treatments increase!

Numbers that make you listen: Complaints about clinic treatments increase!

The current situation around patient complaints shows a worrying increase. The Lower Austria patient's attorney already recorded 448 symptoms this year, which means a slight increase of 5 percent compared to the previous year. This was reported by Michael Prunbauer, the new patient and nursing lawyer, at a press conference in St. Pölten. Surgical specialist areas such as orthopedics are particularly affected, since patients quickly recognize here if the treatment does not run as expected. A focus is also on the complications that can occur despite correct treatment, for which the Lower Austria patient compensation fund is responsible.

In 2024, the patient and nursing lawyer was 1,993 complaints with around three million patient contacts, which underlines the need for improvements in the clinics. Elisabeth Brütigam, the LGA director, pointed out that previous defects in the documentation in the nursing sector as well as challenges in communication and waiting times are now systematically checked and addressed. *** The ombuds position ***, which is represented in all state clinics and care facilities, offers patients and relatives the opportunity to express symptoms and thus draw attention to grievances, such as patientanwalt.com Explained.

The patient and nursing lawyer, which has existed since 1994, acts as a central point of contact for the maintenance of the rights of patients and residents of health facilities. Your task includes free extrajudicial representation in the event of suspected cases of treatment errors and the provision of legal advice on patient rights. The improvement of processes and standards in the clinics is also actively involved in guaranteeing higher patient safety. The increase in the symptoms is seen as an opportunity to optimize the quality of care within the healthcare system, says Prunbauer, who encourages to openly address challenges. Further information can be found on the website of the Lower Austrian patient's lawyer, such as orf.at reported.