The number of Dutch patients in intensive care has increased slightly again. There are 1,417 patients on ICU on Thursday, says Ernst Kuipers, chairman of the National Network for Acute Care (LNAZ). That’s an increase of nine patients from Wednesday’s number.
Despite the slight increase, Kuipers remains reasonably optimistic. According to him, this is because the number of IC patients is not increasing enormously. “The number is not increasing much at the moment, but it still remains very busy.”
According to Kuipers, the figures show that the Netherlands is currently in a so-called “plateau phase”, which means that the number of IC patients is fairly stable.
On Wednesday, Kuipers said that a possible reduction of measures can only be considered if the total number of corona patients in the intensive care units falls below one thousand. According to him, that will take at least another two weeks.
Diederik Gommers, chairman of the Dutch Association for Intensive Care (NVIC), says he is looking at the upcoming Easter weekend with concern. “If everyone is a little less strict, there is a chance that we will have a revival anyway. That requires a lot from healthcare workers.”
One IC nurse takes care of three patients
The number of IC beds in the Netherlands has recently increased from 1,150 to 2,400. If that maximum capacity should be utilized, one ICU nurse must provide four patients.
Because the total number of patients in intensive care is now lower (1,417), an ICU nurse is responsible for three patients.
Aid for German hospitals ‘still desirable’
Patients are also still being moved to German hospitals. More than 130 hospitals in Germany are prepared to take over one or two Dutch IC patients.
Despite the stabilization of the number of Dutch IC patients, Germany’s help is still desirable. “The Dutch ICs are still very busy. There are more than twice as many patients as in a normal situation. The help from Germany is still desirable”, Kuipers said on Wednesday.
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