The employees threatened to stop working if it could not be guaranteed that a more experienced cardiologist would always be nearby. The fact that heart function lab technicians are taking action in this way is exceptional, the newspaper writes. The Heart Center in Zwolle is one of the most important and largest in the Netherlands.
These are cardiologists who work in the so-called cardiac catheterization rooms. Among other things, they replace heart valves and place pacemakers, together with heart function lab technicians who assist with such procedures and are specially trained for this. In recent weeks, the help of a more experienced cardiologist had to be called in so often that the cardiac function lab technicians indicated that they had ‘insufficient confidence’ that the three cardiologists could independently provide safe care.
The three cardiologists involved are new to the hospital. They have been appointed to compensate for the shortage of doctors in the hospital, according to de Volkskrant.
Isala cannot confirm that three cardiologists are not allowed to perform complicated procedures independently for the time being, after employees sounded the alarm. In a statement, the hospital says that there is understaffing of physician assistants and other healthcare workers. In recent months, several measures have been taken and adjustments have been made to the business operations. “Because no patient-unsafe situations may arise,” said the hospital. “We are not there yet, but together we are taking the right steps to solve the problems that have arisen within the Cardiology department.”
De Volkskrant reported in August that patient safety is at stake due to problems in the Zwolse Hartcentrum. The waiting lists would grow considerably.
Things have been restless for some time in the Cardiology department of the hospital. For example, there is a corruption case involving a group of cardiologists from Isala. They would have favored a supplier of medical devices on orders and earned millions with this. The FIOD is investigating the case. The Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) said at the beginning of September that it had no indications that patient safety was endangered as a result.
Whether the group of cardiologists in question was also active at the Isala location in Meppel is unclear. “We have one Heart Center, but we hold outpatient clinics at several locations, including in Meppel,” a spokesperson said earlier at RTV Drenthe.