‘In The Hague, people do not see how much the water is on their lips’

How did you come up with this idea?

‘We have seen for some time that conversations in the workplace are no longer about corona, as they have been in the past two years. Now they are about the energy bill. And while the concerns are acute here, the government is thinking about it for a while longer. I just got out of the neurology department. When I talk to the nurses there, I hear great concerns: how do I get my rent paid at the end of the month, how do I get my energy bill financed?

‘That is why I have called on medical specialists and healthcare administrators to deposit 5,000 euros per person in a fund to help lower-paid colleagues in need of money. I am the first to see that this is of course only a small piece of the puzzle, in addition to the structural solutions such as salary increases, which are also needed.

When should this fund be available?

‘Something quite solid is now being created on both sides. Dozens of people have already registered as donors for that 5,000 euros. These are not only individuals, also, for example, departments want to support as a collective. If we sit on the modest side, we should be able to collect 2.5 tons this week. A large number of budget coaches also responded to my call.

‘Today the banks are discussing how they can support the initiative, and doctors’ organizations such as the KNMG and the VVAA are also contributing ideas. They have set up a foundation before. We are really trying to get them live this week.’

Who do you expect to be able to help?

‘The fund is for healthcare workers, they can report in case of payment problems. I don’t want to limit it to just hospital staff, the solidarity is healthcare sector-wide.

‘Two weeks ago I was at a meeting where administrators from the elderly care were also present. In some organizations, 15 percent of the employees had wage garnishment (employers are then obliged to withhold part of their income to pay a tax debt, for example, red.). The hidden financial problems, such as debt, are enormous for low-paid aged care workers.

‘In our hospital, where nurses with a higher vocational education mainly work, there is 1 to 2 percent garnishment of wages. Still, I was shocked when I inquired about our special management: there is shame to say that you can’t make it. But if you start as a professional nurse, you may have 2,000 euros left over per month. If an energy bill of 700 euros has to be taken off that, and you have a rented house in Amsterdam, then count it out.’

What does it tell you that such a fund is apparently necessary?

‘I’m annoyed that people in The Hague simply don’t see how close the water is. Particularly with people in the public domain: teachers, police officers, nurses. This is not the time to say, “Shut up.” I can afford it, because I’m at the top of the line with my salary. But many colleagues cannot do this. The gap is only widening, and in our public system the consequences are enormous.

‘People are leaving the sector, which is also why I’m concerned about it. We see nurses in training who have to stop, who see that they will not make it with the salary they are going to earn. We are thus thinning out our future generation of healthcare staff. I want to raise that social flag: do you see what’s happening?’