COVID-19 healthcare workers struggling with burnout and fatigue

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/07/119_312239.html

 

By Lee Hyo-jin

 

As Korea grapples with a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the surge in patients and long lines at testing centers are taking a toll on frontline medical workers who are suffering from burnout and exhaustion.

 

During the past 18 months since the first coronavirus outbreak here in January of last year, healthcare workers have been hailed as heroes for their sacrifices and commitment, but little has been done to address their poor working conditions and heavy workloads.

 

Medical personnel who have been working extra hours and many nights, risking their own health at COVID-19 treatment facilities, have been further put upon by a lack of manpower and substandard medical equipment, according to the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMWU).

 

The union released a survey of its members working at 102 medical institutions nationwide, June 22.

 

Their responses included: "We are provided with substandard and poorly fitting personal protective equipment;" "Protective gowns can be easily torn or ripped, so we sometimes have to staple them;" and "Once I was completely exhausted after tending to a dialysis patient for over four hours while wearing protective clothing. I couldn't change my shift with anyone, as we are too understaffed."

 

The union argued that healthcare workers constantly face problems, due to a shortage of staff, as the government continues to increase the number of hospital beds at COVID-19 treatment centers without recruiting more nurses.

 

Things are not different for employees working at public health centers who are in charge of coronavirus testing and epidemiological investigations, as well as the vaccination rollout.

 

'$0.88 doughnut' is breakfast for quarantine chief

'$0.88 doughnut' is breakfast for quarantine chief

2021-07-16 15:30 | Health & Welfare

Gov't may strengthen distancing rules in non-Seoul regions: PM

Gov't may strengthen distancing rules in non-Seoul regions: PM

2021-07-16 09:47 | Health & Welfare

New cases tick down to 1,500s; nationwide resurgence still worrying

New cases tick down to 1,500s; nationwide resurgence still worrying

2021-07-16 09:40 | Health & Welfare

A public petition was uploaded on the Cheong Wa Dae website, June 29, calling on the government to improve working conditions for medical workers at these health centers.

 

The petitioner, who claimed to be a former nurse at one such health center in Busan, wrote, "Nurses have been suffering from excessive workloads since the COVID-19 outbreak, and things have worsened since the vaccine rollout."

 

Public health centers have had to deal with numerous complaints from citizens about the lack of vaccines, a chaotic reservation process and reports of side effects, according to the petition.

 

"The government has repeatedly said that it would actively discuss measures needed to increase public health center nursing staff, to prevent the recurrence of the tragic case in Busan, but no follow-up measures have been announced yet," said the petitioner, urging the government to address the issue appropriately.

 

A healthcare worker wearing protective gear uses an air conditioner to cool down at a coronavirus testing center in Gwangju, July 12. Yonhap

Members of the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union call on the government to strengthen the workforce in the public healthcare sector and improve working conditions, during a rally in front of the Ministry of Health and Welfare building in Sejong, June 23. Yonhap

 

A nurse in her 30s, who also worked at a public health center in Busan, was found dead in an apparent suicide, May 23. Her family said she had been suffering from severe stress after being abruptly assigned to manage a local hospital under cohort isolation, even though the work wasn't included in her initial job assignment.

 

"Medical workers continue to resign due to excessive fatigue and burnout. They can't stand it anymore," said Na Soon-ja, head of the KHMWU. "Many of them are suffering from an extreme level of physical and psychological stress that could lead to depression and trauma."

 

As things have not improved for over a year, the union held a rally in front of the Ministry of Health and Welfare building in Sejong, June 23, demanding improvements in working conditions for healthcare workers, especially for COVID-19 frontline workers, as well as solutions to the chronic understaffing problem.

 

"Healthcare workers who have been battling the pandemic must be properly compensated," Na said at the rally.

 

The union asked the government to establish an infectious disease response system, provide additional support and relief to frontline workers, and come up with feasible measures to increase staff in the public healthcare sector. It threatened a walkout in September if the government does not meet their demands by then.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/07/119_312239.html?tw