Doctors guarantee "hot transfer" after closure, MC Slotervaart

We are bankrupt, but we remain open. It was Thursday early in the afternoon the announcement of conservatives in the crowded restaurant of the MC Slotervaart in Amsterdam.

This stay will not last long, know the staff present. Because just 24 hours later, Friday at 3 pm, all clinical patients must be gone. It is not known how long ambulatory services are open. The two appointed commissioners, Marc van Zanten and Marlous de Groot, did not know either at the time.

"People have a lot of questions, of course, it's a strange meeting," said Vice President Roos Blom of the company's committee. For example on their short term income. "Today is the day of payment, but I do not think we paid a salary, and that immediately causes problems for many people."

The two Conservatives told employees in the day that they were not working. that afternoon they would take care of their business. The board of directors remains responsible for the care.

The bankruptcy of the hospital Slotervaart does not surprise anyone. In fact, the hospital has never been without financial worries since it was founded in 1976. But there is no question of a detailed emergency plan in collaboration with the surrounding hospitals.

See also: A Useless Hospital with a Warm Atmosphere

"What's Happening Now? I'd like to know it myself," said a spokesman for the # 39, one of the hospitals of Amsterdam. "Developments are going so fast now."

A moment later, a reassuring message follows. "We guarantee at least effective help," says Frank van den Bosch of the AMC. "It's not just about emergency care that we've already taken care of, but anyway all care can not wait." In practice, this means that it is "enabled". What does it look like? "Compare that to a fire in another hospital, and then everyone puts their shoulders under them to take care immediately," says Van den Bosch.

Earlier in the day, the health insurance company Zilveren Kruis had already received a reassuring message. "The safety and continuity of patient care in Amsterdam, Amstelveen and Zaandam" is provided by insurers and hospitals. According to Zilveren Kruis, who, as for IJsselmeer hospitals, stopped funding Slotervaart, doctors "ensure a hot transfer".

Patients to Other Hospitals

Earlier this week, there had been an emergency consultation between hospitals. But the serious financial problems of Slotervaart lasted for months. Reports that emergency plans were planned for this summer are not confirmed by the other institutions.

The emergency help of Slotervaart is closed since Tuesday. "We are now seeing a small number of patients coming from there," said a spokesman for OLVG, the largest general hospital in Amsterdam. "It's still quite calm, partly because of the autumn holidays, everything is fine, but it would not have been so fast with Slotervaart."

Within 24 hours, the 150 or so patients Slotervaart will have a new place in neighboring hospitals. Given the current shortage in the staff market, colleagues would like to receive "corresponding hands". "You can then put an end to the uncertainty of patients and staff as quickly as possible," says Frank van den Bosch of the AMC.

But the question is whether the 1,300 or so employees can change offices very quickly. "There will be a meeting of UWV [de uitkeringsinstantie] next Thursday.This was not possible before there are apparently more bankruptcies," Blom said of the company's committee. . "I do not think many people say now: taboo! The employees here really have a heart for the hospital.Although the high demand for staff in health care, everything will not be so easy. for over thirty years, or they speak Dutch badly, no idea how that ends. "