The fact that the Netherlands went into lockdown was a justified decision. But compared to other countries, the measure does not seem as effective, says Marcel Levi, former hospital director in London and professor of medicine. He refers to the infection figures, which are rising just as fast here as in, for example, Belgium and France, where no lockdown has been set up.
Despite the increasing number of infections, England is also not in lockdown and has not even introduced any extra measures. “Opinions are just as divided in England as here, but many people there say that they no longer want to live from lockdown to lockdown. There are also people who say that you run the risk that care will be overrun.”
However, according to Levi, the omikron variant seems to reduce the pressure on IC occupancy in England in particular. “The omikron variant has been peaking enormously in England for four weeks and you do not see the overload of care at all at the moment. The IC admissions have actually only decreased.”
Quality of care
Hospitals do take into account more patients, especially in the nursing wards. By not taking extra measures, the British accept a lower quality of care. “In England they have been able to train a little more staff in the last year and a half and they also make much more use of people who have no medical or nursing training, but are still deployed in hospitals.”
According to Levi, there is resistance in the Netherlands to do the same. “In the Netherlands, we find it very difficult to let go of that top quality. I think that the work ethic of the people in Dutch care is very well developed and that everyone always wants to provide the best care in our hospitals.”
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