Despite a record number of infections, fewer people with COVID-19 now end up in hospitals than before. The care to be provided therefore falls more on the shoulders of primary care. These concerns care that people can use without a referral from a medical expert.
As early as November, the National Association of General Practitioners (LHV), the trade association for care organizations Actis and the professional association V&VN stated that only essential care at home was still possible. A spokesperson for ActiZ confirms that this is still the case.
“The pressure on district nursing is still very high and is increasing. Absenteeism is higher than ever. As a result, many clients already receive less or different care than they are used to and that will not change for the time being.”
Last week, figures from research agency Vernet showed that absenteeism in healthcare is higher than ever, which is specifically involved in mapping absenteeism and employability in the healthcare sector. In the last quarter of 2021, the absenteeism rate for the entire healthcare sector was 8.24 percent.
The figures for the first quarter of 2022 are not yet in, but the LHV and Actis are hearing from affiliated practices and organizations that the pressure is still increasing. The pressure that was first felt in hospitals seems to be shifting to other places in the healthcare chain. Whether this is specifically the result of the omikron variant of the virus, the spokespersons cannot yet say with certainty.
