One in four paediatric intensive care beds in the Netherlands are not in use, a report from the government's health inspectorate has said. Dutch MPs have described it as “scandalous.”
Paediatric Intensive Care in the Netherlands reports a “serious shortage” of available beds in paediatric intensive care departments and a “great problem” in finding appropriate transport with qualified ambulance staff (www.igz.nl). Though beds are available, the budget and trained paediatricians and nurses are lacking.
Of the 107 beds for the Netherlands population of 16 million, only 79 are open.
The health minister, Els Borst, ordered the report after regular press reports of sick children not receiving prompt intensive care.