That’s nice. You have an ailment and can only go under the knife in a few weeks or even months. Since the corona crisis, this has been the fate of 100,000 to 120,000 more people than usual, according to estimates by the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa).
Waiting lists for operations
People who have to be operated on for an abnormality of their nasal septum are the most unlucky. They have to wait an average of four months for an operation. Even if you have an umbilical hernia, your patience will be tested. You can only go under the knife after waiting about 15 weeks. The same goes for people with a heart rhythm disorder.
Corona pandemic and staff shortages
The long waiting lists for operations are mainly due to the postponement of care during the corona pandemic. The staff shortages in the care sector also do not reduce the waiting time.
29 weeks waiting
The figures have been calculated by the NZa and indicate an average. For example, you can go to the Isala hospital in Zwolle for the treatment of a heart rhythm disorder after 4 weeks, while you have to wait up to 29 weeks at the Amphia Hospital in Breda.
Loss of quality of life
Waiting so long for an operation or treatment can cause problems in many cases. Many people continue with pain for longer and waiting too long with treatment for a heart rhythm disorder leads to ‘a lot of loss of quality of life’, according to cardiologist and chairman of the Dutch Cardiology Association Joan Meerder.
Fear of dying
Of course there are means to increase the quality of life slightly. Medication can reduce pain or regulate the heart rhythm somewhat. And when people are at risk of death, they are given priority on the waiting lists. But that doesn’t solve everything. “Waiting gives all patients a lot of stress,” Meeder told ANP. “Sometimes people are afraid of dying, for example. And that is also a conceivable fear.”
Source: ANP.