Last week, a lower number of required IC beds for corona patients was taken into account. The difference is explained by the fact that patients are treated in intensive care longer than previously thought: an average of 23 days instead of 10 days.
‘Scenario not released’
According to a spokesman for RIVM, the ‘most positive scenarios from last week have not come true’. This makes the less positive scenarios more plausible. RIVM therefore takes into account that the number of intensive care beds required will exceed the current capacity.
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The fact that RIVM previously estimated patients’ lying time differently, is due to the experiences that doctors are now gaining with corona patients. “We have now learned that the hospital stay is longer than before. We are learning from the group of corona patients who are now in intensive care,” said a spokesperson.
Work is currently underway to expand the capacity of intensive care beds. 1600 IC beds must be ready by Wednesday. There are also about 575 for patients who are treated in intensive care for another reason.
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Expand further
In the debate with the House of Representatives, Minister Hugo de Jonge said that expansion to 2000 IC beds is not just arranged. “If you look very carefully at beds and respiratory equipment, the 2000 cannot be realized right now. That really depends on a number of devices that are not yet there, that are not yet there.”
It now appears that there may be a need to scale up considerably in capacity in the intensive care units.
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Growth levels off
Nevertheless, RIVM also sees bright spots: “The increase in hospital admissions is leveling off. The number of hospital admissions in Brabant seems to have passed its peak.” RIVM also sees that the number of infections by one patient seems to be decreasing.
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