This website is intended for healthcare professionals only.

Hospital Healthcare Europe
Hospital Pharmacy Europe     Newsletter          

HOPE Governors’ responses

14 December, 2020  

Data were obtained from the OECD, Eurostat and WHO. When data were not available for one of the specific years, the closer year was used (denoted by *). The comments from the Governors were provided between June and October 2020


AUSTRIA

Nikolaus Koller
Mr Nikolaus Koller, HOPE Governor

Could you summarise the most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care? 

A general impact in Austria’s health care systems is the decrease of non-COVID-19 patients. One reason might be from the patient side, in that they fear a higher possibility of infection in hospitals. Another reason is that the government expected a higher infection rate and, therefore, tried to prevent a possible shortage of capacities by recommending to suspend elective interventions and examinations where medically justifiable and to intensify counselling via telecommunication. 

Currently the health system is trying to move back to normality and resume all activities. However, it is seemingly more difficult than expected. It is a big priority to regain the patients trust and to convince people that treatment of any kind should not be postponed anymore as it can lead to serious health issues in the long term. 

Austria’s comparatively high hospital and intensive care capacities have been very valuable in tackling the crisis. In the course of the pandemic, Austria did not fortunately come close to reaching its capacity limits. 

Did you experience major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare and, if yes, which ones?

Changes included a bigger focus on patients with severe symptoms that required intensive care and use of ventilators. In the hospital, adjusted triages were integrated to handle the increase in COVID-19 patients more efficiently and safely. In the outpatient sector, the use of teleservices such as e-medication or, particularly for psychiatric patients, teleconsultation, was made possible by social insurance. 

Have you identified possible changes to your healthcare system? 

One of the main priorities regarding future changes in the health care system continues to be strengthening of primary care to ensure an efficient and sustainable health system, and also ensuring the availability of structures and the workforce required for providing high-quality health care services in extraordinary situations. 


BELGIUM

Valérie Victoor
Mrs Valérie Victoor, HOPE Liaison Officer Representing Wallonia and Brussels Regions 

Could you summarise the most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care? 

Hospitals were strongly affected, and a lack of communication between the nine health ministers in Belgium made decision making and preparations difficult. There were major dysfunctions and hospitals were left to deal with many issues alone, creating great discontent, which manifested during a visit of the Prime Minister to a hospital in which the workers formed a long queue and turned their backs to the Prime Minister to express their anger.

Furthermore, there was no preparation from the Federal health prime minister, who did not announce or prepare for the lack of protective equipment and COVID-19-specific medications. Consequently, at the start of the crisis, the hospitals had to work with less than three days’ stock and quickly ran out of protective equipment. The federal minister and the competent administration regarding the hospitals have consequently been unable to supply the equipment the hospitals desperately needed. We had to help them find the necessary supplies, which sometimes had to be made by fabrication labs. There was also a scandal regarding the destruction of a stock of FFP2 masks before the crisis and the deliberate negation to renew it from the Federal health minister. 

In addition to the above problems, hospitals had to deal with a lack of coordination from the different administrations, resulting in them having to fill in many forms with different formats, and thereby increasing the already high workload. 

To summarise, there was a lack of coordination, communication and help from the federal government, which led to hospitals being hugely affected by the crisis. 

Did you experience major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare and if yes, which ones?

A major change in the organisation of healthcare included the cessation of all other activities in hospitals that were not directly related to COVID-19. 

Have you identified possible changes in your healthcare system? 

So far, no changes have been planned by the government, although the hospital federations are currently proposing changes to the government. 


BULGARIA

Krasimi Grudev
Mr Krasimir Grudev, HOPE Governor

Could you summarise the most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care? 

It is important to note that Bulgaria was not as affected by the pandemic as some other countries. This could be due to a combination of a low number of the population being over 80 and living in nursing homes. Also, the population followed the restrictions and recommendations imposed by the government. Furthermore, some claim the percentage of the population that has been vaccinated with BCG (Bacillus Calmette–Guérin, a vaccine against tuberculosis) might have affected the infection rate. 

Did you experience major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare and, if yes, which ones?

There has been an increase in the number ICU beds and transformation and training of existing departments to meet COVID-19 cases. Most of the hospitals were engaged, but only a few happened to receive COVID-19 patients. Private hospitals participated actively.


DENMARK

Eva Weinreich Jensen
Mrs Eva Weinreich-Jensen, HOPE Governor

Could you summarise the most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care? 

One of the impacts seen in Denmark was a decrease in visits to primary care and hospitals of non-COVID-19 patients. Like in other countries, this was a due to fear of the population becoming infected; a solution to this was the use of telemedicine. However, hospitals still have fewer patients than normal and there is a great concern that patients with cancer and other possible critical diseases will become worse as they wait longer before they contact the health care system. A solution for this problem is currently being investigated. 

Did you experience major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare and, if yes, which ones?

Regarding organisational changes, the government passed laws that gave the health ministry more power and that suspended some patient’ rights. There has been a major transformation of units into intensive care
units and training of staff to participate in the expected care for COVID-19 patients. One of the main lessons from this health crisis is that it has been possible to transform the system and adapt to an unexpected large number of patients, as well as the incredible ability to work together nationally towards the common goal of being able to treat all patients with the virus.  

Have you identified possible changes in your healthcare system? 

The creation of a national authority for emergency preparedness. 


ESTONIA

Urmas Sule
Dr Urmas Sule, HOPE President

Could you summarise the most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care? 

The initial response from the Estonian government was a similar to other European countries and an emergency situation was announced swiftly for the whole country. Among the decision made by the government was the use of testing to control the situation, which had positive results. Nevertheless, one of the issues encountered was lack of protective equipment and lack of testing reagents but this was quickly solved. 

Did you experience major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare and, if yes, which ones?

The State Emergency Act was for the first time in use and this meant that the Health Agency nominated Chief Medical Officer to be in charge of coordinating medical services and a group of scientific professionals were appointed for the crisis committee. Furthermore, two regional units were formed for hospital care and ambulance services.  Throughout the crisis there were big regional differences, with biggest island Saaremaa being one of the hardest hit regions, needing extra support of other hospitals. Out of 4000 confirmed cases in Estonia, 575 were in Saaremaa. 

Have you identified possible changes in your healthcare system? 

There have been big challenges for the health system during the crisis, but also positive outcomes. One was the fast development of telemedicine, especially in hospitals. Before the crisis Estonia already had in place a good telemedicine service, but these quickly increased during the crisis. Estonian Health Insurance Fund (EHIF) in cooperation with hospitals have been working towards developing telemedicine and video consultation services. To provide quality services while considering patients’ needs and safety EHIF started funding tele- and video consultation services widely. The emergency situation has significantly accelerated the uptake of remote services in the health system and provided an incentive for healthcare providers to purchase teleworking equipment. Hospitals and EHIF are planning to continue developing e-services in the next years.


FINLAND

Hannele Hakkinen
Mrs Hannele Hakkinen, HOPE Governor

Could you summarise the most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care? 

In Finland, as in many other EU countries, there was a decrease in hospital and primary care activity for non-COVID-19 patients; this has created one of the most important impacts, that is, the huge accumulation of operations and elective care for autumn and 2021. 

Numbers of elective surgeries decreased when preparing for COVID-19 patients and medical personnel were trained to be able to work in ICUs. In social care, some services were also affected, for example, some group meetings allowed a maximum of only ten people aloud and many services were carried out by phone, social media, etc.  

Did you experience major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare and, if yes, which ones?

There were no major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare, except for an increase in e-services.


FRANCE

Zaynab Riet
Mrs Zaynab Riet, HOPE Governor

Could you summarise the most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care? 

France was one of the hardest hit countries. Currently it is going through phased lockdown measures, in which hospitals are still mobilised and keep beds free for COVID-19 patients. Therefore, the treatment for other patients is still impacted. Hospitals were a key element in managing the outbreak at all levels. But although hospitals were of great help, the fact that too many patients had to reach the hospital level to receive care means the system might not be as efficient and shows a lack of preparation at national and regional levels. 

Another heavily affected part of the healthcare system in France were nursing homes, with two-thirds of the COVID deaths. Primary care also struggled due to the lack of preparation; there was not enough protective material and, as a consequence, primary care doctors stayed at home thereby affecting primary care services. Also like other EU Member States, patients feared going to the doctor and the number of visits by non-COVID-19 patients were also reduced.

Did you experience major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare and, if yes, which ones?

The Ministry of Health called “Ségur de la santé” has organised a large consultation on how the health system should look after this crisis and to make future changes. This led to a series of measures reshaping the healthcare system.


GERMAY

Georg Baum
Mr Georg Baum, HOPE Governor 

Could you summarise the most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care? 

As in many other countries, the German government pursued a two-sided strategy. On the one hand, social distancing measures were taken to flatten the curve and to stretch the number of infected people over time; on the other hand, measures were taken to prepare the healthcare sector for a worst-case scenario. Regarding the second aspect, in the middle of March, hospitals followed an order to scale-down elective care procedures, in preparation for an increase in demand for intensive care and ventilation capacities for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Additional intensive care capacities, respiratory beds, and isolation areas were also installed. According to official figures from the German Federal Statistical Office, Germany has 1925 hospitals and approximately 600 hospital beds per 100,000 inhabitants.

Before the COVID-19 crisis, the 500,000 hospital beds included 28,000 intensive care beds, of which 20,000 were equipped with anaesthetic and respiratory equipment. After the enlargement, Germany has 40,000 intensive care beds, of which 30,000 are respiratory beds. As a result of this internal reorganisation, the downscaling of activities and the enlargement of the capacities, hospitals have suffered from financial losses. These will be absorbed until the end of September 2020 by means of a financial rescue package for the economic stability of hospitals. However, it is already apparent that the compensation payments for hospitals provided by this law will not be sufficient to compensate the loss of revenue and the additional costs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the German Hospital Federation (GHF) is now engaged in a dialogue about hospital financing in the middle and long run.

Did you experience major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare and, if yes, which ones?

In Germany, the Federal States (Bundesländer) are responsible for the on-site organisation and planning of hospital care. Yet, from mid-March onwards, they have aligned themselves with a federal request and enacted regulations to get hospitals to scale-down elective care procedures, as a preparation for COVID-19 patients. While, of course, respecting the principle that the evaluation of elective procedures is subject to the primacy of medicine, hospitals followed swiftly followed the federal request and the Länder regulations. They freed necessary capacities, on the one hand, for the care of patients seriously affected by COVID-19, and, on the other hand, for all other patients in need of acute and urgent treatment. In addition to this downscaling, they installed additional intensive care and respiratory beds and created isolation areas. In general, all parts of the hospitals were involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Some Länder defined coordinating hospitals for certain geographically-defined care territories. In other territories, hospitals organised themselves voluntarily in care networks. 

Have you identified possible changes in your healthcare system? 

The GHF has identified different areas of changes but two in particular. First, there seems to be a certain ‘change of mind’ about hospital capacities in Germany. Thanks to the outstanding performance of the hospital staff and hospitals during the last months, the overall organisation of the hospital landscape in Germany is no longer under one of the most unwarranted critics of the last years; for years, politicians and health economists in Germany have complained that the country has too much hospital capacity. According to official figures from the German Federal Statistical Office, before the COVID-19 crisis, Germany had 1925 hospitals and approximately 600 hospital beds per 100,000 inhabitants. The 500,000 hospital beds included 28,000 intensive care beds of which 20,000 were equipped with anaesthetic and respiratory equipment. The capacities are widely distributed over a large area and are available in all different kinds of hospitals (regardless of the ownership, the hospital size or the degree of specialisation). The coronavirus pandemic has turned this organisation into an advantage. Our hospital landscape has proven to be a viable network. 

Second, it transpires that Germany has to reconsider its hospital financing system. The financing of the German hospital system is based on two pillars. On the one hand, the Federal States (Bundesländer) are bound to bear the investments into the infrastructure. For 20 years now, the Bundesländer have been neglecting this legal obligation to finance, in a sufficient manner, the investments of hospitals. The German hospitals have proven that they are willing to do everything to guarantee the protection of the population, also under never-before-seen health crisis circumstances. In order for the hospitals to be able to continue to provide these services and its quality in the short-, medium- and long-term, the GHF is calling for funds for the modernisation of the structural and medical infrastructure as well as for funds for digitisation, as one of the major future challenges. By contrast, the larger part of the financing is based on the hospitals activity: the health insurance funds pay for the costs of the treatment which is implemented by applying the G-DRG (German Diagnosis Related Groups) system. In a situation where we need to be ready and prepared to scale down activity at every moment, the strong focus on activity in hospital financing is no longer appropriate. The GHF is therefore entering into a dialogue about a system that reconciles the financing of activities and the financing of the costs of maintaining (crisis) capacities. 


IRELAND

Easmonn Fitzgerald
Mr Eamonn Fitzgerald, HOPE Vice-President and Governor

Could you summarise the most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care? 

Ireland has suffered quite a number of fatalities and while it is currently easing the lockdown measures, there is still fear of a second wave. 

The most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care has been disruption for patients and clients of social care services being able to access during the lock down period. While emergency admissions have been accommodated in hospitals, there has been a dramatic reduction in any elective admissions and many screening programmes have been put on hold. Furthermore, people have stayed away from their GPs and suffered as a consequence from timely healthcare provision for both acute and chronic conditions. For example, there have been fewer cancer screening programmes, and fewer oncology and cardiology patients; this will have consequences in the long-term. Social care settings, in particular nursing/residential care facilities, have been very significantly affected by COVID-19 infection of the residents.

Did you experience major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare and, if yes, which ones?

The major change in the overall organisation of healthcare has most notably been in the acute hospital sector. The state entered into a 90-day agreement with the private hospitals sector comprising 19 acute hospitals to provide access to the state for the total capacity of all the private hospitals as part of a Common Purpose Agreement in response to the global pandemic. The effect has been to make available critical care capacity as well as 2000 additional in-patient beds and the provision of a significant amount of complex cardiac surgery and interventional care.

All patients treated during this period were deemed to be public patients and no patients with private health insurance were admitted and/or treated as a private patient.

Essentially private patients have not been able to access private hospitals for the past three months.

Have you identified possible changes in your healthcare system? 

Some of the changes identified in the healthcare delivery system are most notably in virtual and remote care. There has been a proliferation of consultations provided remotely via Zoom, Skype and other virtual platforms. Social distancing is going to fundamentally impact the volume of patient care capable of being provided versus pre-COVID-19 levels.

Waiting lists and waiting times for access to care have deteriorated significantly and the cost of healthcare provision has risen considerably. There is an absolute imperative for a strategic partnership to be entered into between the public and private healthcare sectors in order
to have any chance of improving citizens’ access to diagnostic and therapeutic care.


LATIVA

Jevgenijs Kalejs
Mr Jevgenijs Kalejs, HOPE Governor

Could you summarise the most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care? 

From mid-March, hospitals only treated emergency cases and COVID-19 patients, but they have recently opened up to outpatients. However, there are huge waiting lists, sometimes up to a year, as a consequence of stopping normal activity. 

There was also an initial problem with equipment, but there were not many health care workers infected. 

Another important impact is the financing of the abnormal costs created by the crisis. There is still no bonus from governments or coverage of additional expenses, for example, for protective equipment. 

Did you experience major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare and, if yes, which ones?

Some changes that are currently taking place are the reduction of healthcare activity in rural areas and an increase in capital areas by the government.

Have you identified possible changes to your healthcare system? 

There will also be a hospital reform by the end of the year, which is said to include fewer workers and health budget reduction.


LUXEMBOURG

Marc Hastert
Mr Marc Hastert, HOPE Governor

Could you summarise the most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care? 

Luxembourg created a National Crisis Cell and local crisis cells in hospitals, which involved hospital workforce at all levels. Some of the impacts on healthcare systems include the cancellation of scheduled non-emergency interventions, the reorganisation of hospitals in COVID-19 zones and non-COVID-19 zones, and limited access by visitors to hospitals. Patients were informed that they will have to designate a visitor, who will be badged. 

Furthermore, Advanced Care Centres (ACC) were generated; these are itinerant treatment centres that have the medical equipment necessary for initial treatment. However, emergencies had to respect the usual pathways in place in Luxembourg and not go through the ACC. However, if a patient sees his/her state of health deteriorate during treatment at the ACC, a medical evacuation is planned. The ACCs were designed to operate through two strictly separate consultation channels: the first is designed to accommodate patients with signs of COVID-19 virus infection; and the second allows patients who do not have signs of COVID-19 infection to come to the centre.

Acquisition of additional equipment, such as respirators and additional computer tomographies (CT-scans) was necessary. This was done following objective, transparent and verifiable criteria to ensure safety. Similarly, acquisition of protective equipment took place via a National Logistics Unit following an agreement on standards for the use of this equipment.

Did you experience major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare and, if yes, which ones?

Changes in the overall organisation of healthcare include an increase of intensive care while still keeping enough beds available for other pathologies. A seizure of hospital and intensive care bed capacities is carried out twice a day, at 8 am and 4 pm.

Other changes include the development, together with hospital pharmacists, of a procedure for managing stocks and orders of drugs with a view to equitable distribution via an objective criterion. A new national regulation allowed the Luxembourg market to be considered as a single official hospital, which allowed Luxembourg to be active on the Belgian market. Also, Luxembourg allowed transfer of 12 French COVID-19  patients requiring intensive care (called the Grand Est solidarity action).

Work was also carried out to ensure good national coordination. Data sheets with COVID-19 indicators were completed every morning by hospital departments. The Minister received the information collected daily in the form of a ‘dashboard’.

Similar to other populations, there is a fear and hesitancy to visit the hospital or primary care; therefore Luxembourg tried to raise awareness of the issues and the serious consequences that they could have for the future health of the patients.

Have you identified possible changes to your healthcare system? 

After the current events, it is clear that a reorganisation of our health system is necessary. The health crisis has highlighted the limits of our current resources and there are many lessons to be learned. Changes include a better maintenance and availability of reserves of beds and equipment. The creation of a National Hospital Logistics Centre (including central purchasing), will take over the activity of the National Logistics Cell and develop it. There is also a need to strengthen the role of hospitals to enable them to face future health crises, as well as a public service able to respond to vital priorities.


PORTUGAL

Carlos Pereira Alves
Prof Carlos Pereira Alves, HOPE Governor

Could you summarise the most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care? 

The government has announced that Portugal will be on contingency status until 14 October 2020. The political consensus and a good response of the health system helped in it never becoming overwhelmed, although the number of ICU beds being are lower in Portugal compared with other EU countries. Portugal only reached a maximum of 60% rate of occupation of ICU beds. Several campaign hospitals were prepared but practically never used. The low occupancy of beds meant other patients from areas such as, cardiology and oncology could be treated. However, hospitals also faced strong shortages of material in the beginning but after one month this was quickly controlled. 

In September 2020, the number of daily cases increased as in all over Europe and we witnessed a slow pressure on the hospital system but without alarm. 

The crisis has had a big impact on training, elective and non-emergency surgeries, which had to be stopped. The Ministry of Health is asking for plans to resume normal activity; but patients do not go to hospital as much as they did before, 70% of daily emergencies have disappeared. The low activity of hospitals will create economic problems because there is an activity-based funding mechanism. Central government will have to change the funding criteria of hospitals if they want the activity objectives to be met. 

Additionally, private home care has been impacted badly.  

Did you experience major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare and if yes, which ones?

Several campaign hospitals were prepared but practically never used. Only non-essential activity stopped at an early stage. 

There is an effort throughout the system to replace on-site activities with virtual ones. The use of medical tele-appointments increased significantly as home working was adopted whenever possible. Delivery of hospital-only medicines is now done through hospitals instead of pharmacies. 

Also, there have been many efforts in creating designated pathways to separate ingoing and outgoing patients and staff. 

Have you identified possible changes to your healthcare system? 

As mentioned above, the low hospital activity will create funding and financing problems as a consequence of the activity-based funding mechanism that is currently in place. Hence, the central government will have to change the funding criteria of hospitals if they want the activity objectives to be met. There is general consensus that though the economic impact of this crisis will be high (experts anticipate a 7%–9% GDP budget deficit in 2020) the National Health Service (SNS) must be reinforced in terms of the resources available.


SPAIN

Sara Pupato Ferrari
Mrs Sara Pupato Ferrari, HOPE Governor

Could you summarise the most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care?

Spain has been strongly hit by the Coronavirus pandemic. During the first wave, the peak was acute and had a great impact on hospitals, public or private, and on the healthcare and social systems in general. This crisis has damaged Spain´s image as one of the healthiest nations, with the highest life expectancy in Europe and a robust healthcare system.

Currently, at the end of October 2020, there are already a million cases in Spain, the fatality rate is 3.5 (0.6 for second wave) and hospital admissions are growing in all regions. The whole country has 14% beds occupied in hospitals (17.000 persons), 25% of ICU beds occupied (around 2350 persons). Cumulative incidence of cases per 100.000 inhabitants is around 600.

Spain was on state of emergency until 21 June 2020. The 17 regions were coordinated by the Ministry of Health. There was also a centralisation of material purchasing due to the initial problems with acquisition of material. Now the different regions are able to organise the strategic storage of material and to make purchase by themselves.

One of the undesired side effects of the pandemic is that patients with common diseases avoid going to hospitals while COVID-19 patients are being treated. As an example, Spain had 40% fewer myocardial infarction patients reported by hospitals compared with 2019, which might have affected the general death rate. 

Like most countries, Spain is counting fatalities of those who have tested positive for coronavirus. For this reason, during the first wave, several deaths were not registered as caused by COVID-19, as they occurred in nursing homes without having a positive test.  

Currently, within a severe second wave that is striking most of European countries, the Parliament has agreed on declaring a second state of alarm, in order to allow Autonomous Communities to adopt stricter lockdown measures if necessary. 

Primary care is under great pressure under this second wave. Many professionals are positive or are at risk hence must stay at home. There is also a shortage of nurses and doctors.

Nursing homes have limited and even forbidden visits and are now better prepared than in the first wave.

The Track and Trace system has been implemented and diagnostic capacity has also increased. There is no longer a scarcity of PPE and critical care equipment. Information systems have improved although some autonomic regions still have delays in reporting. But the biggest issues are the understaffing and under strain health workforce.

Did you experience major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare and, if yes, which ones?

The health crisis caused by the COVID-19 emergency has forced hospitals and health services to look for new forms of organisation to respond to the health emergency. The adoption of innovative solutions and new organisational processes have given an essential role to medical services and managers and have guided the needs of infrastructure, patient flows and the material needed.

New healthcare facilities were created mainly in Madrid and Barcelona. Primary care was reorganised mainly in the form of telemedicine.

There has been a blurring of traditional medical specialties with the implementation of multi-professional groups or ‘COVID teams’, with the active participation of nursing, which has played new roles, enhancing telemedicine. 

In the direct care of admitted patients, digitisation or telemedicine initiatives have been implemented or expanded. By telemonitoring in conventional hospitalisation rooms, with reduced devices that are easy to use and sterilise, and through telecare, or virtual consultations, to increase the number of visits and reduce the exposure of professionals and the consumption of protective equipment. As well as calls with mobile devices to the patient or family. Home control of patients at intermediate risk, not admitted to hospitals, has been done in many centres with their active participation and the help of oximetric control devices, video calls and structured interviews. Avoiding unnecessary face-to-face consultations has been controlled by collecting samples in special devices or at home, by conducting virtual telephone consultations and with the home delivery of the medication for hospital use. Geolocation has been used for contact study and to ensure population estrangement. In short, the different modalities of telemedicine and communication technology have expanded exponentially in a few weeks.

The Ministry of Health has recently agreed with regions on a new Coronavirus alert system to clarify and to have a more homogeneous system in place. It is a risk system evaluating the situation with four levels of alerts and certain thresholds that should be evaluated in the different regions. 

Have you identified possible changes in your healthcare system? 

A seroprevalence study on 90,000 persons was performed after the first wave. Only 5% of population on average had been infected in July. The study is envisaged to be performed again during November 2020. 

Due to the economic situation, a new guaranteed minimum income has been approved for vulnerable people.

In July, the Spanish Congress reached a broad agreement among political parties for introducing reforms in the public healthcare system focussed on public health, primary healthcare and digitalisation. 

The Ministry of Health agreed with the Autonomous Communities on a new package of coordination measures to strengthen control of COVID-19. The Declaration of Coordinated Actions includes measures related to vaccination, screening, coordination with local authorities and an implementation of the new national seroprevalence study. 

The role of citizens as an engine of change, together with that of professionals, has proved to be essential, emphasising their responsibility in self-care, in the fulfilment of social isolation and in the rational use of health resources.

Within the drama that has caused so much personal and collective suffering and subsequent economic catastrophe, we must draw on the best lessons learned to improve the health system as a whole, to make it closer and adaptable to the needs of patients, to avoid unnecessary clinical events and face-to-face visits and to make it more personalised, more efficient, and of higher quality. 


SWEDEN

Erik Svanfeldt
Mr Erik Svanfeldt, HOPE Governor

Could you summarise the most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care? 

The Swedish Government employed a partially different strategy than other European countries. There was never a complete lock down; Sweden instead established restrictions that were sustainable for a long time. In the Spring, Sweden had a higher total number of deaths than neighbouring countries, but the number of new deaths in COVID-19 has since dropped significantly. COVID-19 has hit Stockholm much harder than other parts of Sweden.

Sweden had a low number of ICU beds before the crisis, but the hospitals managed to increase this number very quickly. The maximum expanded capacity level was never reached. There was also an initial lack of certain equipment and pharmaceuticals. 

A big problem was elderly care, not least in nursing homes. There is a clear policy to provide basic healthcare in nursing homes, but they are basically designed for encouraging social contacts and not for fighting pandemics. Nursing homes were closed for visitors from March, and social care staff have been given extensive training in patient safety.

Did you experience major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare and, if yes, which ones?

As in other countries, some elective surgeries and planned treatment were postponed, and non-emergency dental care was cancelled. Therefore, there was less pressure on other parts of hospital services (cardiology, cancer) and less pressure on primary care. Now there is a huge ‘healthcare backlog’ to be dealt with.

Hospitals managed to transform wards into ICU, to transfer healthcare professionals from one part of the system to another, and also to recruit staff from other sectors. There has also been an increase of digital services.

Have you identified possible changes to your healthcare system? 

Future changes, that we can foresee, include the creation of stocks, an increase of digital care and reviews of existing emergency plans. Furthermore, there will probably also be a discussion about responsibility: who and what level (local, regional, national, EU) should be responsible for what?


UNITED KINGDOM

Niall Dickson
Mr Niall Dickson, HOPE Governor

Could you summarise the most important impact on hospitals, primary care and social care? 

The UK has suffered a general increase in demand across the whole health and social care system, having to even establish field hospitals across the country. Furthermore, the initial focus on acute care to mitigate those more in need has led to mental health, primary health, community and social care being overlooked and lacking capacity. 

Similar to other countries, the UK also suffered supply challenges, particularly for the procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment across the system, especially in primary, community and social care. This has created staff anxiety and lack of confidence, but the situation is resolving slowly. 

There have been significant workforce issues, as staff members fell sick, or were required to quarantine or shield at the same time as an increased need for services. This led to the reallocation of staff to sites in need, including task shifting and bringing staff back from retirement.

In terms of support for the health service and preparing it for the challenges of COVID-19, focus was rapidly shifted away from elective and other routine care, which was paused, care quality inspections were scaled back, and national coordination of the crisis response was put in place.

All of the factors above have culminated in significant financial stress with increased costs across all parts of the health and care sector. The UK government has provided increased funds, although we expect challenges in the medium–long term. 

Did you experience major changes in the overall organisation of healthcare and, if yes, which ones?

The pausing of non-urgent services to meet COVID-19 demand has caused much concern about unmet need, including fewer presentations to the emergency department with heart attacks and stroke and fewer people accessing cancer screening; and concerns about growing waiting lists.

There are concerns about restoring non-urgent services when there is still a risk of a second peak; plus, the usual increased winter demand towards the end of 2020. As we move into the service restoration phase, there is a challenge in delivering care in facilities that separate people who are positive and negative for COVID-19. 

We are also expecting increased demand for mental health services and rehabilitation services.

Have you identified possible changes to your healthcare system?  

As mentioned above, possible changes to the healthcare system include the increase of waiting lists as well as the restructuring of healthcare in COVID-19 and COVID-19-free areas. Other changes include a demand on mental health and rehabilitation services. 

x