After three years of the pandemic, the Vice President of the German Medical Association, Ellen Lundershausen, draws a rather gloomy conclusion for the medical staff. Looking ahead to 2023, the doctor says in the 428th episode of “Today Important”: “The situation has gotten worse.” According to Lundershausen, 90 percent of the patients were treated on an outpatient basis in Corona times – and medical specialists in this area in particular would not have been appreciated at all: “With two years of Corona, nursing staff are also worn out. They can no longer stand this intensification of work.”
But the overload is not getting any less. Family doctors are currently overburdened, especially by the flu epidemic, says Ellen Lundershausen: “Of course, that has something to do with the fact that our immune system did not deal with infections, as we usually have in autumn and winter. We have dealing with Corona.” That is not surprising, many doctors, including Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, have predicted exactly this scenario.
Ellen Lundershausen, who is also an ENT doctor and President of the Thuringia State Medical Association, has mixed views on the work of the Minister of Health. His work is very corona-oriented, and from this point of view he didn’t do much wrong. However, they had already “practiced a bit of Corona” when Lauterbach became Minister of Health. From other points of view, however, the medical profession is not always happy. This is due to the communication: “Karl Lauterbach doesn’t ask us any questions, but rather presents us with facts,” criticizes the Vice President of the German Medical Association.
In her opinion, one of the biggest problems that needs to be addressed is the shortage of skilled workers: “We won’t get more skilled workers for the next ten years.” For a long time it was believed that these skilled workers could be brought in from abroad. “But that didn’t work out very well from the current status,” she says in the podcast. It is therefore urgently necessary to work on the structures. As far as doctors are concerned, one has to ensure that university places are available now. Because the students only complete their training in about 12 years.
With a view to 2023 and the years to come, Ellen Lundershausen is certain: “Corona will stay. I don’t think Corona will go away completely.” For the people, the doctor hopes that they can feel safer again so that they “are not so afraid”.
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