Vienna Health Association in the Cross Fire: Report on bed shortage

Vienna Health Association in the Cross Fire: Report on bed shortage

A new report by the Vienna City Court of Court has triggered a wave of criticism, especially with regard to the situation in the hospitals of the Vienna Health Association (Wigev). The 257-page test report deals with the personnel location and the number of gang beds set up from 2018 to 2022 and has caused excitement with its uncovered facts.

The problem around the gang beds is as old as the healthcare itself: for overloads, beds outside of regular patient rooms are set up, which was discussed in the current report. Especially during the Corona pandemic, the number of gang beds increased significantly, which the opposition in Vienna called against the city government. Health City Councilor Peter Hacker (SPÖ) commented and described the report as distorted. "The situation in 2021 and 2022 was anything but normal," he said.

A look at the numbers and circumstances

The Wigev defended itself after the publication of the report by pointing out the special challenges during pandemic. Michael Binder, the medical director of the Wigev, emphasized that the situation had significantly improved after the critical phase. At the same time, Hacker pointed out that the Court of Auditors had not taken into account that the hospitals had reached their limits in 2021 and 2022.

A central argument from Hacker is the misunderstanding regarding the bed capacity. The Wigev defined a certain number of "possible" beds that had to be shown in the statistics, even if they were not in operation. This leads to misinterpretations about the actual number of beds and the need to operate with gang beds.

The gang beds are not just a mere number, but a solution to provide patients in critical situations the necessary care. Hacker explained that it is not uncommon for patients to be within sight of the station bases for a short time in order to offer a better observation option by the nursing staff. This specific practice is documented, but has nothing to do with the 2,000 gang beds that are mentioned in the report.

The discussion about the gang beds also shows how important it is to look at information in the right context. In the past, the Wigev has emphasized that they have repeatedly accepted patients from other federal states instead of closing its doors. This emphasizes the efforts of the health service provider to ensure comprehensive patient care, even in times of the highest stress.

During the Wigev tries to present the situation and explain its actions, it remains to be seen how the political debate will develop, especially under the pressure of the opposition. The city development center report will surely remain a central topic in the coming weeks.

Additional topics related to this report include the increased number of unoccupied areas in the Wigev and the legal aspects of the area change, which are also checked by the city development center.

For more information and details on this topic, At www.meinbezirk.at .