It is a coincidence, but one with a signal effect: while the first part of a hospital reform is being passed in the Bundestag, some children's hospitals are in dire need.
There is an onslaught of minors with severe respiratory infections that are difficult to treat in hospital.
It's not a lack of beds, it's a lack of staff.
This is basically tight, but currently especially due to the high level of sick leave.
Lauterbach's new law addresses the staffing as well as the funding of the pediatric departments.
Both are correct, but only doctoring about the actual misery in the hospital system: that there are far too many treatment places that have to be occupied in order to pay off, and that a disproportionately large number of employees are therefore required.
At the same time, it is difficult to deviate from the personnel key or to move between stations.
On Tuesday, Lauterbach wants to let the cat out of the (Nicholas) bag about what his major clinical reform should look like.
This is urgently needed: for the benefit of both small and large patients.