What's happening in the world of hospitals

The commotion focused on the Zuyderland hospitals in Heerlen and Geleen. But surely it must be symptomatic of all regional hospitals. Financial compulsiveness prevails. Hospital administrators are primarily CFOs, so focused on cost and efficiency. The minister had to step in a few times to calm things down, but to no avail. Reorganization is taking place because otherwise it will become unaffordable.

Huh?
Nobody tells me we didn't see this coming a long time ago. Surely medical economists know that there has been an increase in the demand for healthcare for years. With the heady growth of our population, it's not getting any better. In doing so, it is also good to consider the strata of society in which we are growing. Indeed, the layer that already naturally has the greatest demand for care.

Our daughter is a doctor and specializes in gynecology. Noted in the Zuyderland in Heerlen. But she knows nothing about it. She is hardly informed internally and has no free time left to absorb the news in any other way. It is quite normal for her to go into the evening shift at 10 p.m. and not be able to go home until 10 in the morning. She has then supervised another couple of deliveries, where, as an assistant in training, she is often on her own. This, of course, goes wrong. She is sometimes exhausted and has to do everything she can to relax in the little time left. The route to burnout lies open.

But who's with it?
Nobody! No head of the profession, no administrator, no politician. So the crisis is already there, someone just needs to name it. And then we go back to crisis management. How we will miss Mark Rutte. Fleur Agema stood for years shouting in the Lower House that things were wrong. Now she is at the wheel herself, but I see little decisiveness, little urgency. Things are jumping, Fleur, the house is leaking on all sides. As far as I am concerned, public health is a crucial political issue. How did we throw billions during corona? Pfizer and Sywert van Lienden lined the pockets, but we have already forgotten that. It was all about protecting the vulnerable. And now we are sitting on pennies when it comes to everyday care? A stark contrast as far as I'm concerned.

Dear Fleur, let's start again. By answering the key questions. What is the role of government with regard to public health? Should there be unlimited access to care for all? Should we train more people or attract them from elsewhere? Should we build more hospitals and sacrifice other financial priorities to do so - after all, it's all about making choices? And are we finally going to fully commit to prevention? Many have been calling for this for years. But the electorate decides. Another worthless example of failing democracy. Everyone has the right to vote and the right to poison themselves with unhealthy things. And if we then get physical or mental problems all the doctors should be there for us. As far as I am concerned, this should be abandoned soon. The Hippocratic Oath is not meant for this, dear doctors.

Let's not forget mental health care.
A friend of ours runs a large general practice in Parkstad, where the social underclass is over-represented. She is primarily a psychologist and pastor, she tells herself. People have been torn loose from the old social structures and are desperate for attention. Anyone who opens their eyes sees them walking the streets. It is a harrowing picture, the epitome of a sick society, which personally causes me great shame. I ask the idiots who once introduced the thinking of self-reliance to deeply repent for the social consequences it has caused and, as far as I'm concerned, for punishment, they should fully commit themselves to assisting all victims.