Non-urgent care? Longer with pain on the waiting list, due to corona

Countless patients have seen their hospital appointment be canceled, surgery, examination or admission postponed this year. There are no figures, but during the first corona wave, all ‘non-urgent’ care in the hospitals was postponed for eight weeks. Urgent are, for example, bursting arteries, cerebral and heart attacks, blood poisoning and difficult deliveries. All non-urgent interventions had to wait. During the second wave, another quarter of the care, and sometimes 40 percent, was postponed.

Professional associations of doctors and patient organizations note that many patients have to wait a long time. Some get stress from it. A poll among members of the ‘Harteraad’ patient association shows that 80 percent of heart patients are concerned about their health because so many appointments are canceled. Many people also feel that no one is watching them. Some serious stories emerged from the poll. For example, a woman who has to wait a long time for treatment despite her aneurysm (potentially dangerous bulging of the blood vessel). She stopped sleeping because she felt she had a ticking time bomb in her body.

Many doctors believe that anything that can relieve the hospital’s burden now is welcome. They hope that a fireworks ban can prevent acute emergency room treatments during the turn of the year.

Sven Pinck (49)

‘I recovered from stomach cancer a year ago. I had had a complete gastric removal, radiation and chemotherapy. I was fine again at the beginning of December. I brought the children back to school and worked again, as a self-employed person in the human resources. But last summer I got a heart rhythm disorder. I got tired more and more quickly, saw more and more black eyes and it was difficult for me not to pass out. ”

“I had to undergo an ablation, said my cardiologist in a large Amsterdam hospital. Then they make scars in your heart tissue that neutralize false impulses in your heart. Because because of those wrong stimuli, my heart now only functions for 67 percent. There is a waiting list for the procedure and I was getting worse. I was finally hospitalized on October 4. But two days later I was sent home empty-handed. They said there were too few nurse anesthetists. That I was admitted for an information meeting. ”

“By now I was angry and desperate. I cannot work now while I have my own business. Every other day I call the hospital planning office to find out if there is a hole for me, because maybe people are falling because of corona. I’m just trying to make corona work in my favor. They will drive me crazy. They show understanding but I just want a date, not compassion. Last Friday I was told on the phone that “due to corona it will take longer before I will undergo surgery”. I did not receive an answer to the question of how many people are waiting. ”

“I have been self-employed for more than 20 years and I do not have disability insurance because it is very expensive and complicated. I also have no income since July 1. I am frustrated that my medical, mental and financial situation is no reason to speed up my treatment. The system is crooked: in these corona times, private clinics are just open to perform cosmetic procedures, incomprehensible. The Hague should intervene to increase the capacity in hospitals and reduce the workload. I have been promised that I will have an ablation before the end of 2020. But I just have to see what awaits me. ”

Paula Carpenter (38)

‘I keep hoping and laughing a lot. If you start thinking negatively, you make it worse. But of course it is not funny. I am unlucky twice. “You need an operation soon,” my doctor had said in February.

Due to a fall and a pregnancy of a heavy baby, my pelvis is loose. I was already helped on the left, only the right side should still be. On March 17th it would be my turn at the Medisch Spectrum Twente. Due to corona, this was canceled.

During that time, I quickly deteriorated and spent most of the day in a bed in the living room. When I went to the toilet it was so painful that I almost had to crawl back. Most everything, including caring for our two children, fell on my husband’s shoulders. To keep it going, I was given oxycodone and diazepam. While that is really rubbish, with the risk of addiction.

I was finally helped in June. That actually went very well. I was able to walk without crutches after four weeks. I really enjoyed going out again.

Until I felt that it was not right on the left. That operation appears to have been carried out incorrectly. I’m going backwards. Now I have trouble getting the children to school. I go by car and park fifty yards away. Sometimes I think: how do I get back? We have already arranged a bed for the living room.

Last week I spoke to the surgeon. He said: “I’ll put you on the waiting list, but because of corona, keep in mind that your turn will not be until May or June.” It’s really frustrating.

Unfortunately I had to start on oxycodone again. It’s so strong, almost like a drug. When I quit in the summer, I got sweating attacks, elevation and muscle pain. So I know what I’m getting into. But I have to take care of two children.

I hope, of course, that we will get the pandemic under control soon. At the same time, I can’t really get angry about young people who don’t follow the rules properly. It is double: on the one hand I think it’s sad for them, I was young myself. On the other hand, I think: please stay home! ”

Chris Broekhof (74)

‘Just above my heart is an ICD, a box for heart failure. I got it when it turned out that my heart has only 5 percent of its normal pumping function.

That device must be checked regularly in the hospital. Then they check whether the pump function of my heart is still good and whether there is still enough power in the device. They always did that check every six months. But not anymore.

The ICD was last checked in November last year. The next appointment was for last May. But before then I received a letter: ‘Sorry, it is not possible due to corona’.

The ICD would finally be read on November 18th. But in August I received another letter: due to corona, the appointment is by telephone. What good is that, I wonder, my device cannot be read remotely.

I’m in it. In the back of my mind I still think: what about the battery in the ICD? Is there enough power left to save my life, should it be necessary?

I am also curious how my heart performs. If it gets worse they might be able to help me with medication. But now I’m in the dark.

On the one hand, I understand that corona now takes precedence. But surely there should be something to be arranged so that checks like mine can continue?

And not only for me, but also, for example, for cancer and chemotherapy studies. You just can’t postpone things like that. ”

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