Employees from various hospitals have slept at work over the past two nights. “Some of the nurses, but also the doctors, continued to sleep in the beds that patients normally sleep in. This morning those beds were quickly changed and now there are patients again,” says spokesperson Erwin Kikkers of Treant Zorggroep.
More than forty employees slept in the Scheper Hospital in Emmen. Employees also stayed overnight at the Treant hospitals in Hoogeveen and Stadskanaal. “Healthcare workers always want to continue, that is the nature of the animal,” says Kikkers. “At Treant we want them to be able to do this as best as possible and safely. Some of the employees preferred not to drive at night anymore. Then you let them spend the night and offer them breakfast in the morning.”
About thirty employees woke up this morning at the Wilhelmina Hospital in Assen. “The care never stops,” the hospital said on Facebook. “This way they can be sure that they can start their shift on time, regardless of what snow and slippery conditions do.” This also concerns nurses and doctors, but also facility staff.
Despite the winter conditions, care in Drenthe hospitals continues as usual. “We only make outpatient appointments by telephone or digitally as much as possible,” Kikkers says. “We have been in contact with our patients about this.” However, Treant injection locations have been closed in Aalden, Sleen, Dalen and Valthe.
The Wilhelmina Hospital has also chosen to make outpatient appointments by telephone as much as possible. Operations will continue as normal.