Employees of the Amphia Hospital in Breda have started a petition protesting against the arrival of the 538 Oranjedag party in Breda. “With 538 disdain,” is the name of the petition that had already been signed more than a thousand times on Saturday afternoon around four o’clock.
The healthcare workers want the event to be canceled because healthcare is already under severe pressure. “10,000 revelers with 538 on the Chassé field: a blow to the care providers in the hospital 400 meters away.”
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Concerned surgeon
The petition is not a formal initiative of the hospital. Rogier Crolla is the initiator of the petition. He works as a gastrointestinal and oncology surgeon in the hospital.
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The petition was drawn up on behalf of ‘concerned healthcare providers, patients on the growing waiting list, their loved ones and others’. The surgeon did not want to provide any further explanation himself and referred to the communication department.
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Spokesman Mark van Hassel says that Amphia recognizes itself in the action. “The petition is going fast, we cannot ignore it.”
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Overburdened staff
The hospital staff are concerned, the spokesperson knows. “We have also asked the Breda mayor to draw attention to the problem. Our hospital has been completely scaled down for regular care due to corona. Our staff is already under a considerable burden.” Due to corona, non-emergency hospital surgeries have been delayed for almost a year. Doctors continuously assess whether an operation is really necessary or can be postponed.
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Drugs and alcohol
The 538 party could put even more pressure on hospital staff. “If people use drugs or too much alcohol, it can cause an influx of patients. We have to keep people away from the hospital, so we have trouble with such a party.”
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The police also have reservations about the party. “We are seriously concerned about the short preparation time and the safety and health of visitors, security guards, healthcare personnel, emergency services and our overburdened (non-vaccinated) police officers,” says the Zeeland-West-Brabant police union.
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Popular
There is also a lot of criticism at the Fieldlabs because they contain a lot of government money, while only a limited group of people can benefit from it. Nearly a million people tried to get tickets to the event. A lottery took place and the tickets are traded on the internet for thousands of euros.
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Monday is at the request of various local political parties an extra meeting in which the Breda mayor Paul Depla has to explain the event to the city council. The municipality has yet to grant the permit.
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Update: Saturday around 8 p.m. the petition had already been signed 25,000 times.
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