Four years ago, Ombudsman Achitz, together with employee representatives, highlighted the need for action – since then the situation has worsened despite positive individual measures
Vienna (OTS) – Nobody denies that Austria’s care system is in urgent need of reform. Too few staffing levels and poor general conditions not only cause problems for employees and lead to high drop-out rates in the nursing professions, they also make it very difficult for nursing staff to ensure humane care for those they need to care for, despite their self-sacrificing commitment. Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz pointed this out exactly four years ago in a press conference together with the AK presidents Johann Kalliauer (Upper Austria) and Erwin Zangerl (Tyrol). “Then the corona pandemic broke out, which further aggravated the situation. Despite sensible measures such as nursing training bonuses, the staff shortage is enormous. It is the reason for many complaints when the Ombudsman’s commissions inspect old people’s and nursing homes, but also facilities for people with disabilities or children’s and youth shared apartments.” A look at the demands four years later shows: They still apply.
If staff are under time pressure, the risk of human rights violations increases
“Every year the Ombudsman inspects hundreds of facilities in which people in need of care or people with disabilities live – and we regularly come across human rights violations,” says Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz: “In the vast majority of cases it is obvious: the nursing staff are doing their best, but the general conditions make the difference “Holistic, activating and integrated care and support difficult to impossible.” Examples of problems caused by too few nursing staff: immobilization with medication, locking up, deprivation of liberty due to difficult-to-open doors or elevator locks, malnutrition or dehydration, dinner in the afternoon, early night’s sleep, lack of employment opportunities and lack of hygiene.
Improvements can be made, for example, by sleeping later at night, flexible meal times, evening programs on the wards or accompanying people into the garden. This requires more staff. More training is also needed, for example on violence and de-escalation management. “One thing is clear: human rights violations must be eliminated immediately,” demands Achitz. “Sufficient financial resources and appropriately qualified personnel are the key to humane conditions. If the staff is under time pressure, the risk of human rights violations increases because only the bare essentials can be done,” said the Ombudsman. In order to attract enough people to the nursing service, the conditions must improve.
Link: Press release from March 2020 (
SERVICE: The Ombudsman’s Office is at post@volksanwaltschaft.gv.at and the free service number 0800 223 223.
Questions & Contact:
Florian Kräftner
Media spokesman in the office of Ombudsman Mag. Bernhard Achitz
+43 664 301 60 96
florian.kraeftner@volksanwaltschaft.gv.at
volksanwaltschaft.at
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