University hospitals fear triage of cancer patients: Most cancer centers can no longer accept patients
21.12.2021 13:44
The increasing number of coronavirus patients requiring intensive care is also pushing cancer centers in Germany to their limits. Two-thirds of the hospitals surveyed already have no capacity to admit additional cancer patients. This is according to the latest survey by the Corona Task Force of the German Cancer Research Center, the German Cancer Aid, and the German Cancer Society.
The three cancer organizations once again appeal to the population to take advantage of the vaccination offer and to observe contact restrictions.
The situation at Germany's major cancer centers continues to deteriorate. The centers' care capacities are almost exhausted, and staff are working under maximum strain. While the number of new coronavirus infections currently appears to be stabilizing, experts expect the incidence to rise again soon. "As the number of cases increases, we must expect a renewed increase in patients requiring intensive care. However, the intensive care units simply cannot accommodate any more patients—this applies to both coronavirus patients and people with other serious illnesses. If this happens, triage will become part of everyday hospital life," warns Professor Dr. Michael Baumann, Chairman of the Board of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg.
It is more important than ever to ensure adequate care capacity for cancer patients in clinics and hospitals, especially in cancer centers. "Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the proportion of available intensive care capacity is at or below 10 percent in large parts of Germany. As the medical director of a university hospital, I am confronted daily with the enormous burden of caring for COVID-19 patients, resulting in staffing shortages in inpatient cancer care, urgent surgeries being postponed, and patients having to leave the intensive care unit early after cancer surgery because their bed is urgently needed," confirms Professor Dr. Thomas Seufferlein, President of the German Cancer Society. "We must be aware that overcrowded intensive care units due to COVID-19 lead to an unintended prioritization of the patients requiring treatment – and thus to a silent triage."
But not only politicians, but also society as a whole, are called upon to avert the collapse of the healthcare system. Gerd Nettekoven, Chairman of the Board of the German Cancer Aid, commented: "We once again make our urgent appeal to everyone. Please get vaccinated, regardless of whether it is your first, second, or third vaccination. Adhere to the existing contact restrictions and measures to contain the pandemic – especially now with the upcoming holidays in mind. We absolutely must reduce the number of new infections in order to be able to provide adequate care for all seriously ill patients!"