New coronavirus infections have been growing dynamically for several days. The number of occupied hospital beds and ventilators is also growing. However, these are only “dry” numbers and statistics. In an interview with Medexpress, paramedic Adam Piechnik tells what the third wave of the epidemic looks like from the staff perspective.
Martyna Chmielewska, Medexpress: The coronavirus epidemic continues and there are many indications that it will not end soon. Over 115 million infections have already been reported worldwide. In Poland, over 1,7 million people contracted COVID-19. Are there enough ambulances for the sick?
Adam Piechnik, paramedic: There is a shortage of places in infectious diseases hospitals. There are also no ambulances. On Tuesday, an ambulance from Ursynów had to take the patient to Radom. And all because there was no place to admit the sick in Warsaw. Ambulances from the capital go to Siedlce, Łosiewice, etc. For this reason, there is no transport where it should be for quite a long time.
What is the condition of the patients?
We are trying to take the most seriously ill patients with COVID-19 to the Ministry of Interior and Administration at ul. Wołoska.
- See also: Third Wave of COVID-19. More infected people go to hospitals than in autumn. What’s happening?
How do rescuers handle this situation? What are they most afraid of?
We are afraid that the damage will be irreparable. We are afraid that we will become indifferent machines, that we will be emotionless. We will all be patients someday. I fear the still, cold face and empty eyes of a medic looking after those I love.
Do Patients Die in Ambulances?
I do not know such cases. It is possible that they do happen. It is hard to believe that it would not end with the dramas of ambulance trips with patients with severe respiratory failure. Ambulances travel over 100 km in search of a place for a patient in a hospital. They often bounce from door to door. And all because another ambulance passed them and took their place.
What do patients complain about the most?
Patients complain the most about telemedicine. Patients would rather make an appointment with a doctor in an outpatient clinic than use telepaths.
Interviewed by Martyna Chmielewska / Medexpress
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