Majority of anaesthesiologists from the University Children’s Hospital of Kraków (UCH) quit their jobs on Tuesday, the hospital spokesperson informed, adding that scheduled surgeries have been suspended, and admissions halted. The facility now operates in an emergency mode. "We are doing our best to avoid evacuation of patients," the spokesperson stressed.
Information about the anaesthesiologists leaving the hospital was announced on Tuesday by the spokesperson of the University Children’s Hospital of Kraków Katarzyna Pokorna-Hryniszyn. She said that negotiations with the doctors had been still ongoing on Monday.
She added that the negotiations had many stages and brought positive outcome. All specialists, except for 26 anaesthesiologists, cancelled their notices.
"We were hoping that these doctors would change their mind. The financial offer they received was a good offer, taking into account the hospital's possibilities, as well as the high level of responsibility of these doctors. (...) The negotiations came to an end, unfortunately without any effects," the hospital spokesperson said.
"We're working in an emergency mode"
"We are doing our best to avoid evacuation of patients. We want to underscore that for the time being the continuity of the hospital has been secured. Scheduled surgeries have been suspended, and admissions halted. We're working in an emergency mode," she stressed.
Talks with the anaesthesiologists were to take place on Tuesday. The hospital was expected to announce the outcome of the discussion.
On Monday morning, 54 notices were still handed in, but 28 specialists decided to withdraw. 26 anaesthesiologists did not change their mind.
Problems at Kraków hospital
Doctors from Prokocim demanded increase in pricing of medical prodecures, better working conditions, and higher wages. In December, over 100 specialists wanted to leave the hospital, but part of them decided to cancel their notices after an agreement has been reached between the hospital management and a trade union. The details of the agreement were kept secret. In the first half of January, the hospital spoke with the ministry envoys about reviewing the pricing of medical services at the clinic.
The Health Ministry assured that Lesser Poland branch of the National Health Fund was monitoring the case, and deputy minister Piotr Bromber was taking part in talks regarding the situation at the hospital.
The University Children’s Hospital of Kraków (UCH) is the biggest paediatric clinic in southern Poland. It saves lives and health of children of all ages - from newborns to 17-year-olds. It has all paediatric and surgical specialty wards, and offers a full spectrum of diagnostic and recovery possiblities. The hospital has 22 wards, 32 specialised clinics, and 400 beds. It is also an educational and research base for the Colleguim Medicum Institute of Pediatrics, which trains future medical staff and carries out research.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, TVN24, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: TVN24