«We work with infected patients and we are directly exposed to infection. We appeal to the management to appreciate the work and to increase our salaries. When will the tearing of money for us end? » – wrote nurses and midwives from the hospital in Krakow. What are they asking for?
University Hospital in Krakow – difficult situation of nurses
The situation in many medical facilities in Poland is becoming more and more difficult. Staff are demanding not only adequate security measures, but also pay rises. Nurses and midwives from the University Hospital in Krakow appeal to the management to appreciate their work. Below we publish the full text of the appeal sent:
«We, nurses and midwives employed at the University Hospital in Krakow, are making a public appeal to the Hospital Management to increase our salaries for work in connection with the work performed in combating the epidemic threat caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The currently prevailing exceptional situation in the country, and especially in healthcare entities, is a sufficient basis to increase our salaries, at least for the duration of the epidemic. This would constitute a measurable appreciation of the work we perform, in line with the current, extraordinary conditions of its performance.
The University Hospital in Krakow is the so-called a single-name hospital – an infectious disease hospital focused on the treatment of patients infected with the COVID-19 virus. We nurses and midwives work with infected patients and are directly exposed to infection. The constant increase in the number of illnesses and deaths, the lack of sufficient personal protective equipment, the insufficient number of nursing staff in the hospital, and additionally working under time pressure, the need to exercise extreme caution, stress, fatigue and fear for our and our families’ life and health make our everyday life work unimaginably hard.
We are aware of our obligations to save the lives and health of patients, but in a situation that has no precedent in the past, it is difficult to recognize that we have been prepared for it. This is an extraordinary situation for us, as it is for everyone. An additional extraordinary in our situation is that we have no choice – we have to go to work and face our fears, shortages of security measures, staff and take on responsibilities.
We hear that single-name hospitals, such as the University Hospital, received additional funds from both the state budget and the National Health Fund due to their special status – there was an increase in the valuation of services. Unfortunately, it did not translate into our salaries in any way. For the second month now, we are waiting for any suggestions from the management. Unfortunately: NOTHING, SILENCE.
Many of us undertake extraordinary work on medical duty, many of us, feeling responsible, resigned from additional work. The management promised us special benefits, an increase in hourly wages, but unfortunately only promises remain today.
The Director may appear in the media and boast about the solutions he adopts, but the hospital is created by people and even the best solutions will not replace a person in a position.
Before the epidemic, we had to fight for any increase in salaries, in the event of an epidemic, we have to fight for an increase in salaries – although the hospital obtained additional funds. When in this hospital – one of the largest and most modern in the country – will the money for nurses and midwives end?
Is the situation also not able to provoke the reflection that the hard work, effort, exposure and dedication should be appreciated by nurses and midwives – through cash benefits, because in employee relations this is a normal way of expressing recognition for an employee. Mr. Director, when will you see our work, when will you decide that we are also creating this hospital, when will you notice our heroic work in epidemic conditions – the work of an ordinary nurse and midwife?
Ladies and Gentlemen ! Words of support from the public and applause are an expression of appreciation for our work. So we decided to point out to the public that our work in the extraordinary conditions of an epidemic is not noticed by those who should do it in the first place – the employers.
On April 21, 2020, one of our colleagues, a nurse from the Hospital in Kozienice, died due to the COVID-19 infection. She worked in the infectious diseases ward. What can you say, how to express regret? Rest in peace Grażynko …
This is what our job looks like. I don’t think anyone would like to be in our place now … We hope that our public appeal will make the community of Krakow and the Lesser Poland Voivodeship support us in our expectations. Social solidarity has great power – HELP US! We hope that the Director, with a sense of responsibility, will finally want to start talks on the transfer of additional funds for salaries for all nurses and midwives employed at the University Hospital in Krakow, because we are all equally exposed in the infectious diseases hospital ».
Have a question about the coronavirus? Send them to the following address: [email protected]. You will find a daily updated list of answers HERE: Coronavirus – frequently asked questions and answers
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