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Nursing home care center: ‘The green services had better comfort against caterpillars than we did against Covid’

A report by the Flemish Ombudsman Service publishes harrowing testimonials of how the corona crisis struck in residential care centers. The opposition targets Minister of Welfare Wouter Beke (CD&V). “It’s time for him to draw his conclusions.”

A report by the Flemish Ombudsman Service with testimonials from residents and employees of residential care centers once again underlines the drama that took place during the corona crisis. The report was presented on Friday in the ad hoc committee of the Flemish Parliament that is investigating the approach to the pandemic. Sciensano, the knowledge center that assists the government in the health crisis, estimates that about 60 percent of the Flemish fatalities fell in rest homes.


I saw on TV that green services have better convenience to fight caterpillars than we do to Covid.

The chaos becomes clear in the anonymous testimonials. “We were not allowed to tell the outside world that there were covid infections in order not to get a bad name,” says a health care professional. The lack of masks is obvious. “I was very scared, also about the protection material. The packages feel very floppy, especially compared to what they wear in the hospital. I saw on TV that the greenery has better convenience – those white suits – to fight caterpillars than we do to Covid, ”says a health care provider.

In addition, due to the strict rules, many people have died without a family, sometimes in inhuman conditions. “There was never a visit to the resident, except when the palliative sedation happened: two people were allowed to stay for half an hour, but even then the resident had not died. At that time, a body bag was already underneath, so that it could be quickly zipped up without risking contamination. The resident knew she was alone and dying. She felt very alone. It was a very difficult moment for me, ”says a health care professional.


I’m considering quitting my job because I don’t have the resources to provide good care.

Head of the residential care center



Many testimonials show the lack of manpower and resources. “I’m considering quitting my job because I don’t have the resources to provide good care the way I see it. Both to residents, their families and their own staff, ‘says a head of service.

Responsibility

The opposition parties believe that the government made a mistake and responded too late. “This report proves the added value of votes from the field, in addition to that of experts,” says Hannes Anaf, Flemish Member of Parliament for the sp.a. “Inhumane things have surfaced. It is clear that there was too little protection material and that the government intervened too late. The psychological impact for the people in the field is enormous. ‘

Minister of Welfare Wouter Beke (CD&V) is targeted. “Every testimony says time and again that the administration under Minister Beke reacted chaotically, that there was no direction, lack of confidence and the facts were being walked on,” said Björn Rzoska, who chairs the ad hoc committee for Groen. “The residential care centers had to improvise to fill that gap.”

The PVDA also shoots sharply. ‘Beke is partly responsible for the acute understaffing in residential care centers after years of underinvestment. Numerous reports and reports have made it clear in recent years that the situation in residential care centers has got out of hand as a result. This was a man made disaster, waiting to happen. It is time for Wouter Beke to draw his conclusions. This is not sustainable, ‘said Lise Vandecasteele in committee.

No dismissal

In Flemish government circles it is denied that Beke’s position is in danger. The sp.a also remains cautious. “We are only at the beginning of the committee,” says Anaf. ‘We are not demanding a resignation yet, but it is important to look at what went wrong and why. This is the only way we can make structural improvements. ”

Beke said the testimonials are coming in solidly. “They make very tangible and concrete what was already known globally,” he says. ‘It is up to the committee to determine with open vision which lessons should be learned. I have heard many strong testimonials from people who took their responsibility in this crisis and struggled with the same dilemmas. There are still on the agenda. I look forward to the concrete recommendations. “

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