Coronavirus: More intensive care beds made available at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen

‘Our preparations are nearing completion’

Two weeks ago, outpatient appointments for the Pain Centre were still being held in the building belonging to the Department of Anaesthesiology at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen. Now, it is home to twelve fully-equipped intensive care beds, where medical students are being trained by nursing staff experienced at working in intensive care in preparation for the first COVID-19 patients. Bavarian Minister of the Interior Joachim Herrmann met the Director of Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Heinrich Iro to discuss the progress of preparations for a possible increase in the numbers of COVID19 patients.

State Minister Herrmann thanked staff at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and a group of students in person for their hard work and dedication. ‘Whilst some people may shirk their responsibilities in a crisis, you are here, helping others.’ He stated that whilst a number of beds are still free at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and other hospitals in the region, it is unclear how long hospitals in other regions in Bavaria will be able to cope with the situation. Joachim Herrmann: ‘We may then have to move patients, for example from Munich and the surrounding area. It is much better to take precautions now and maybe be left with some empty beds than to be faced with a situation like in Italy, where people are dying due to a lack of beds.’ He thanked the university hospitals in Erlangen, Regensburg and Würzburg for spontaneously agreeing to take two patients from Italy each. ‘That is a positive demonstration of European solidarity,’ he said.

The Director of the Department of Anaesthesiology Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Schüttler gave the Minister of the Interior an overview of the capacities available for intensive care at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen. Normally, 100 intensive care beds are available. In preparation for COVID-19, 40 intensive care beds have been made available so far. ‘In the final stage of preparations, we would ultimately be able to care for and provide artificial respiration for a total of 200 COVID-19 patients in various intensive care units,’ said Prof. Schüttler. However, an additional 30 new ventilators would be required which have been ordered, but not yet delivered. ‘Once they arrive, that would be us at the absolute maximum capacity we can offer in Erlangen within the next three weeks.’

The Director of Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Prof. Iro, explains that ‘preparations are now nearing completion. We will soon have doubled our capacities for intensive care and have rearranged staff to ensure that we can operate the new intensive care units. However, we are in the extremely lucky position that as well as a large number of external volunteers we also have the support of approximately 200 medical students and more than 400 scientists from the Faculty of Medicine. We have been blown away by the huge wave of support. It shows our doctors and nursing staff that they can count on widespread support when tackling the challenges facing them. Our nursing staff, doctors, admin staff and assistants are currently doing a great job at the front line!’

He continued that the crucial issue over the next days and weeks is that the planned deliveries of protective material arrive in time. ‘We are currently making a deliberate effort to use resources sparingly, whilst taking care not to jeopardise the protection of our patients or staff,’ Prof. Iro explained. ‘However, if we do not receive the promised deliveries of protective masks and clothing we will have a problem. I call on all those in politics to make an effort to help ensure that we obtain enough deliveries of the materials we so urgently need.’

At the moment, four patients are being treated for COVID-19 at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, one of them in intensive care. Prof. Iro addressed State Minister Herrmann: ‘I believe that politicians have done everything they can to help us prepare. Now we just need to wait and see if it is enough, no-one knows what the future will bring. However, one thing is certain and that is that no-one wants to end up with a situation like in Italy or France.’

Further information

Press office of Universitätsklinikum Erlangen
Phone: + 49 9131 85 36102
presse@uk-erlangen.de