Urgent warning call: Pediatricians in Bremen are sounding the alarm about undersupply!

Urgent warning call: Pediatricians in Bremen are sounding the alarm about undersupply!

There is a serious problem in pediatric and adolescent medicine in the state of Bremen: According to the professional association of pediatricians and adolescent doctors (BVKJ), the supply situation is getting worse, particularly in Bremerhaven and Bremen-Nord. The reason for this? A massive shortage of staff and the declining number of practices that are urgently needed to care for children and young people. The Weser courier reports on the alarming conditions that are already having devastating consequences for patient care.

Judith Hildebrandt from the children's clinic at the Bremen-Mitte Clinic draws a clear conclusion: "We are experiencing a massive shortage of nursing staff." The reduced number of beds and the limitations in operating capacity are direct consequences of the current situation. These challenges can hardly be overcome with the integration of generalist nursing training. What is particularly worrying is the development that two individual practices in Bremerhaven will close next year without a successor, which will reduce the number of established offices from 11.5 to 5.5.

Rising patient numbers, falling practices

The situation is particularly dramatic in Bremen-Nord, as the number of patients is increasing - not least due to the central reception center for refugees. At the same time, the availability of medical assistants (MFA) is decreasing, meaning that closed practices cannot be adequately replaced. "There is already a nursing shortage in the Bremen children's clinic. Bottlenecks are putting an additional burden on our employees," emphasizes Hildebrandt. This not only has an impact on the children in care, but also on the working conditions of the doctors and nurses themselves.

These challenges were discussed in detail at a meeting attended by 168 BVKJ members. Solutions to improve the situation seem to be called for, but Hildebrandt warns: “The proposed measures to relieve the burden have only limited effectiveness.” This includes, among other things, the temporary opening of our own health facility in Bremerhaven as well as financial incentives such as starter and retention bonuses.

Nursing crisis in a broader perspective

However, the nursing shortage is not limited to pediatric and adolescent medicine, quite the opposite. Geriatric care is also facing a constant increase in the number of people in need of care. Loud Deutschlandfunk It is predicted that the number of people in need of care will increase to around six million by 2040. This has far-reaching consequences for the entire care infrastructure in Germany, which is characterized by a glaring shortage of personnel.

The shortage of skilled workers is serious: around 115,000 positions are currently unfilled, and more than 191,000 additional nursing staff will be needed by 2040. Nevertheless, the challenge is not only determined by a lack of skilled workers. Working conditions and the financial burden on relatives also play a prominent role, as the Statista analysis of the nursing shortage shows Statista.

The necessary measures to combat this staff shortage are diverse and could include, among other things, advertising for foreign nursing staff, improved training conditions and flexible working time models. It remains to be seen whether the reforms planned by the Union and the SPD will really bring about the hoped-for improvements.

In this tense situation, the question arises as to what will happen in the coming years. What is certain is that the need for action is enormous not only in Bremen but nationwide, because the future of care needs to be shaped – and quickly.