REGIO – The GGD Gelderland-South is having trouble attracting enough doctors and other healthcare staff. This problem mainly affects forensic physicians and confidential physicians, among others. The GGD reports this in the annual reports for 2021 and the budget for 2023.
Last year, the GGD was already concerned about a shortage on the labor market and said that there could be gaps in the workforce. Now the GGD says that it specifically concerns doctors and forensic staff. The GGD Gelderland-Zuid works for 14 municipalities in the province, including Druten, Beuningen, Nijmegen and Wijchen.
Great social importance for forensic medicine
The GGD even says that the availability of forensic services may be at risk. According to the GGD, the shortage of personnel can also lead to higher personnel costs, because people are hired temporarily and this is usually more expensive.
Forensic doctors determine causes of death, injuries to victims and the health of suspects and perpetrators. These doctors are at the service of municipalities, the police and the judiciary. Forensic medicine is of great social importance: it contributes to (criminal) law, public order and is an important pillar of public health.
Hiring healthcare staff more expensive
According to the GGD Gelderland-South, the problems on the labor market in the healthcare sector are urgent and can be felt on a daily basis. There is a risk that the formation is not in order, there are gaps and agreed performances cannot be realized for that reason.
In addition, it costs more and more money to fill the gaps in the planning with the temporary hiring of employees. It is also difficult to properly accommodate the turnover of employees, the GGD writes.
Five scenarios for the progress of the corona pandemic
Health Minister Kuipers said some time ago that the local authorities should prepare for a possible new corona wave in the autumn and winter. He was criticized for throwing the corona problems over the fence to the municipalities. The regional GGDs play an important role in the fight against corona.
The GGD Gelderland-South says in its annual report and budget that it is completely uncertain how the corona pandemic will develop further. That is why five very different scenarios are taken into account. Back to normal; a kind of flu+; external threat; continuous battle and worst case scenario.
A clearer picture of corona later this year
According to the GGD, these scenarios are based on four driving forces: mutations of the virus, vaccination, immunity and human behaviour. The Nijmegen region scores excellent in terms of vaccinations, only the city of Nijmegen and Overbetuwe are lagging behind. The GGD hopes to get a clearer picture of the future in the course of this year and to be able to better estimate the risks of corona.