H+ explicitly advocates for better working conditions in nursing. Hospitals and clinics are already investing heavily in attractive working conditions, flexible working models, and the compatibility of work and personal life. The reduction of the weekly maximum working hours from 50 to 45 hours, as decided by the SGK-S, significantly restricts flexibility in duty planning to the detriment of nursing staff and complicates individual working time models. For example, nurses could no longer work several days in a row for extended time off afterward, even though this is in line with the needs of many nurses. Short- term assignments during staff shortages would also become more challenging. Instead of improving the compatibility of work and personal life, this could lead to less flexible working hours and high additional costs for hospitals and clinics.
Binding transitional financing for care provision essential
Although the commission stipulates that the additional costs should be covered by tariffs in the long run, H+ insists that the financing of the additional costs be fully and prospectively ensured from the outset. A prospective financing is necessary to ensure that the additional funds are available in time. Otherwise, hospitals and clinics would have to bear the additional costs themselves. This would further increase the financial pressure on the already heavily burdened institutions and could directly impact the nursing staff. Ultimately, patients would also suffer if less time and resources were available for their care and support. Thus, there is a threat of the care initiative failing to achieve its original goal: to sustainably improve working conditions in nursing and ensure high-quality care.
H+ demands practicable solutions
H+ calls for an implementation of the care initiative that meets the needs of nursing staff, functions in the everyday life of hospitals, and is above all fully financed from the start. Only in this way can working conditions be sustainably improved and the care of patients ensured. To ensure practical solutions, the increased involvement of hospitals and clinics, which have to implement the care initiative, is essential.
Press contact:
Anne-Geneviève Bütikofer, Director
Tel.: 031 335 11 63
E-Mail: medien@hplus.ch