In April last year, when the third wave of corona infection was greatest, just over 20 people were admitted to IVA in Dalarna.
Since the fourth wave started around Christmas, the number of inpatients has been around five people.
- We do not have as many patients at all, but half of the intensive care work has to do with covid, says Torbjörn Roos.
"People can no longer bear it"
Although the load is not enormous, the fourth wave, but also the pandemic in general, has now begun to have consequences.
- People can no longer cope, they choose to change jobs.
They state after two years of this work situation that it is not worth it to work like this, says Torbjörn Roos.
Patients are sent to other regions
As before, patients are sent to other regions to relieve staff.
He does not describe the situation as a huge problem but that it is seen as a signal that needs to be taken very seriously.
- It is possible that we would need to send even more to ensure that the staff pallets, so we get the extra shifts down and come down to 100 percent working time.
So it works more than 100 percent today?
- Oh yes, says Torbjörn Roos.
Vårdförbundet: "A lot of overtime hours"
The care association in Dalarna currently sees no major trend that staff in the region's health and medical care choose to quit:
- There are some who have quit, but overall I do not see an increased tendency for people to resign.
At the same time, a membership survey that the Healthcare Association has conducted with our members shows that many are considering quitting their profession, says Marion Vaeggemose, department chair in Dalarna.
She points out that the staff wears hard in many places.
- It is a lot of overtime hours now, more than during the first wave.
This is because many are not allowed to go to work due to symptoms or covid.
Then you will have to cover the absence with other staff who take on extra passes.
We lack our professional categories and the work environment in general is incredibly strained, she says.