"Under European standards a unit should function normally when its capacities are 75% full. We often work with 90% of our capacities full, or even more. At the same time we face a lack of adequate medical staff," says Boris Muzlovič, the head of the Intensive Care Unit at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Febrile Illnesses. That is why they demand from the country’s decision-makers to soften the austerity measures, proposed in the Act on Balancing Public Finances.

"We often have to call our nurses in the middle of the night, and they respond to our calls," says chief nurse Erna Kos Grabnar. She also adds that because of the stress at work they are in need of a permanent number of qualified staff.

The head of the Centrefor IntensiveInternal Medicine, Marko Noč, also warned about the unresolved issues and out-of-date equipment. They all work in premises which were first opened two decades ago, at a time when there were three times less patients than today.

The relevant ministry has responded to the reactions and has already inquired about the availability of renting newer equipment from the state commodity reserves or from the Slovenian Army. The ministry says that intensive negotiations are underway and that a proposal for releasing the needed equipment will be prepared shortly.

L. L., T. H., MMC;
translated by K. J.