Lauterbach on bottlenecks: Adult staff should be on children’s wards

The acute wave of infections brings children’s hospitals into sometimes dramatic bottlenecks. Because there is a lack of staff in particular, Health Minister Lauterbach has now announced that nurses will be withdrawn from adult wards for children’s wards.

In view of the difficult situation in the children’s wards of hospitals, Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has announced that staff from other areas will be relocated in the meantime. “We will be moving staff from the regular adult wards to the children’s wards,” Lauterbach said. This is particularly the case for nursing staff.

Minimum personnel limits should no longer be checked

In order to make this possible, Lauterbach asked the health insurance companies to temporarily stop checking the minimum staffing levels. Lauterbach’s ministry also pointed out that the federal states are responsible for hospital planning.

“The children now need our full attention, said Lauterbach. The news of overcrowded children’s practices and children’s wards in hospitals are “very worrying”. There are currently “less than 100 intensive care beds for children available” in Germany. It is foreseeable that the wave with illnesses, in particular caused by the RS virus, is not yet over. However, the situation is “under control”, emphasized the minister. The planned measures will contribute to this.

No indications of particularly severe courses

There is “no evidence that the disease is more severe than usual,” emphasized Lauterbach. Due to a catch-up effect as a result of the closure of daycare centers during the corona pandemic, however, “a lot of children are now coming into contact with these viruses for the first time”. It was therefore “simply more children” who fell ill – also more who fell ill early for the first time.

Lauterbach therefore announced that the possibility of electronic sick leave for paediatricians would be continued with immediate effect. This would allow parents to stay at home when their child is ill and still be entitled to sick pay.

Lauterbach: Postpone preventive care for children

The minister also appealed to parents to postpone check-ups for children if possible in order to relieve the children’s practices. He also referred to the possibilities of telemedical consultations, which are now offered by many doctors.

Lauterbach also appealed to adults: “If you feel cold symptoms, please wear a mask, especially if you are in contact with children under the age of two.” The virus is often transmitted from adults to children.