The number of available hospital beds fluctuates. Respiratory infections, in particular, are taking a hit this winter. But “it is not yet a crisis”.
Earlier this week there was a significant decrease in the number of beds available in Belgian hospitals. In just a few days, the number of available beds went from around 3,500 to 2,650. That decrease has now largely been reversed and almost 3,300 beds are now available.
“The figures actually fluctuate,” says Marcel Van de Auwera, head of the emergency care department at FPS Public Health. There are differences between the week and the weekend and the evolution of incoming and outgoing patients also fluctuates.’ “We’ll see in the next few daysthe previous period to a somewhat quieter period. In the end-of-year period there are fewer treatments planned – think operations – which gives more space.’
Almost all beds are occupied at UZ Brussel. Even intensive care is almost at its limit. Respiratory infections in particular are the culprit, such as RSV. This year, the virus not only affects young patients, but adults are also hospitalized.
“It’s a fierce RSV winter, but one peak is simply more dominant than the other,” says pediatric disease specialist Siel Daelemans. ‘I’ve also noticed that parents are more anxious because of news and media attention. They ask the same question as the newspapers: what’s going on?’
The UZ Brussels spokesperson stresses that every winter is busy and there is no need to panic. ‘Regular care can still continue, there is no crisis here for the moment. We will remain vigilant now that the flu is also present in the country’.
