Sweden’s intensive care units span a crippling third wave of COVID-19 infections.
At Alingsås Hospital north of Gothenburg, there were three intensive beds before the pandemic. Now there are six … but they currently have eight acutely ill patients.
“We do not have enough beds or staff – it is only with enormous effort and overtime that we can pull through,” said Anette Nyberg, chief physician at Alingsås Hospital to SVT.
The Swedish health and welfare provision stipulates that intensive care units must have a spare capacity of 20 percent in the event of a major accident or a terrorist attack.
But since March, that has not been the case. In April, extra bed capacity dropped to 12 percent.
Should Sweden ask for help?
With nursing staff on loan redirected back to their own wards to tackle backed up waiting lists for surgeries and consultations, Swedish hospitals are seeking Denmark and Norway for help.
“They have not had as many patients as us, so their staff is not so worn out,” said Nyberg.
But the Swedish health authority has rejected the plea.
“The situation in the health service is very strained, but we have a national capacity to meet the need for emergency treatment right now,” said Johanna Sandwall, crisis manager at the National Board of Health and Welfare.
In December, both Finland and Norway offered to relieve Swedish hospitals by receiving COVID-19 patients or sending staff – but Sweden also said no then.
Another approach
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Sweden has closed down to a lesser extent than many other European countries.
Over 14,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Sweden. Over a million have been infected.
Nyberg’s mood reflects the majority of medical staff on site: “We are far beyond what we can handle – we really should ask our neighbors for help,” she said.
Source: The Nordic Page