health - Foundation: University Hospital not in insolvency
With a high deficit, personnel issues, and a poor mood, the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) has recently caused bad headlines. Now, the largest employer's foundation in the state has spoken out. "With great misunderstanding and concern," the statement reads from the board. "Suggesting that the clinic is on the brink of insolvency is simply false and unjust."
Some presentations are "inappropriate and misleading." They could unsettle patients and the UKSH staff, according to the statement. The deficit situation of UKSH and the reasons that lie in the structure and financing of the German healthcare system are long known and not meant for sensationalism.
The UKSH has developed from an "average clinic to a university hospital of European top class" in the past 20 years and contributes significantly to securing healthcare for the people in Schleswig-Holstein as the only maximum provider, writes the foundation.
Criticism from the Medical Chamber
The President of the Medical Chamber, Henrik Herrmann, recently expressed himself in the "Kiel Nachrichten" about Narcotics Anesthesiologists having to perform care tasks in UKSH operating rooms. The high solidarity of doctors towards nursing personnel is fundamentally to be welcomed, he told the paper. "When doctors perform nursing tasks in an emergency situation, it is a beautiful sign of teamwork in the sense of patients and patients." However, the involvement in nursing should not become a permanent condition for anesthesiologists. Doctors are there to perform medical tasks – through excessive workload and bureaucracy costs, they are already overburdened. The time spent on tasks in nursing is also lacking in medical further training.
Herrmann warned of possible further problems if university hospitals take on more tasks in the context of hospital reform, which other clinics will no longer offer. "If the capacities no longer suffice now, what will happen then after the reform, when even more patients are to be cared for?" As President of the Medical Chamber in Schleswig-Holstein, he expressed concerns to the paper. He also sees the state in the planning of hospitals in the wrong, for example, by allowing focus providers to continue offering certain services. He demands strategies to minimize the serious personnel shortage in Kiel, but also in Lübeck. An approach could be improving working conditions, particularly in nursing.
Criticism from the Auditor's Office
Lastly, the State Auditor's Office warned that UKSH would not be able to finance the high costs for renovation and operation on its own. As a result, the state is responsible and liable as the owner. So far, the clinic has financed the project costs almost exclusively with loans. The consequence are continuously increasing debts and rising interest burdens. The Landtag already increased the credit limit by an additional 600 million euros to 2.25 billion euros in June. However, the problem is not solved according to the Auditor's Office.
The foundation further explained that the working conditions in which the employees of UKSH would deliver top performances, paired with numerous crises of the recent past, are very challenging. "In particular, against this background, the performance of all employees of UKSH deserves respect and support. This also applies to management," writes the board of the sponsoring foundation.
However, reporting gives a false impression of an extremely dissatisfied workforce and mismanagement, according to the statement. Thousands of female and male patients, as well as employees, know it better and make opposite experiences every day. "The UKSH is a place of readiness to perform, commitment, joy in innovation and optimism. This finds too little recognition and appreciation in the current discussion and media reporting."
The sponsoring foundation of UKSH stands "unconditionally behind UKSH, its employees, and the future-oriented work of the board." In the sponsoring foundation of UKSH, more than 70 private individuals and companies engage themselves, according to their own statements, since now eleven years.
- Due to the ongoing financial struggles and personnel issues, the UKSH's ability to make necessary payments has been questioned, leading to concerns among some individuals.
- Despite the challenges in the health sector, the University Hospital contributes significantly to the state of Schleswig-Holstein, providing top-tier Medicine services.
- The President of the Medical Chamber in Schleswig-Holstein, Henrik Herrmann, expressed his concerns about Narcotics Anesthesiologists performing nursing tasks in UKSH operating rooms, citing concerns about personal problem and excessive workload.
- The State Auditor's Office has warned that UKSH may not be able to cover the high costs of renovation and operation, leading to increased debts and interest burdens for the state.
- The sponsoring foundation of UKSH, which comprises over 70 private individuals and companies, stands behind the hospital, its employees, and the board, expressing support for their future-oriented work.
- Despite negative media reporting, many female and male patients and employees have positively experienced the UKSH's readiness to perform, commitment, and optimism, demonstrating resilience in the face of challenges.
