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HEALTH

EXPLAINED: Are there really no free ICU beds in Switzerland?

According to media reports, Switzerland’s intensive care units are at full capacity. Are there really no free ICU beds in all of Switzerland?

EXPLAINED: Are there really no free ICU beds in Switzerland?
An intensive care unit in Neuchatel. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

On Wednesday, November 18th, a number of the world’s leading newspapers reported on the current situation in Switzerland’s intensive care units (ICUs). 

The New York Times, Washington Post and Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung – as well as The Local Switzerland – all reported that the country’s ICUs had hit full capacity. 

The reporting was based on a statement from the Swiss Society for Intensive Care Medicine on Tuesday which stated that the country was using up its capacity for certified ICU beds. 

However, as reported by Swiss news outlet Watson, while the initial capacity has been reached – it is unlikely that anyone admitted to hospital in need of acute care will be turned away – whether or not they are being admitted due to coronavirus. 

The reason for the discrepancy is the difference between ‘certified beds’ and total capacity. While there are no ‘certified beds’ remaining, this number relates to the standard number of ICU beds which existed in the summer – i.e. before the pandemic.  

As reported by the NZZ, many ICUs in hospitals all across the country still have further capacity in case admissions continue to increase. 

How have hospitals increased ICU capacity? 

The majority of cantons still have remaining ICU capacity, however the situation is critical in a handful of cantons – and is getting worse. 

To boost capacity, Swiss hospitals took a number of steps. 

Firstly, Swiss hospitals stopped all non-urgent interventions – including surgeries – which would have required ICU beds. 

In addition, hospitals across the country have added ICU beds. 

Finally, while some hospitals have exceeded their capacity, several patients have been transferred to other cantons for treatment. 

In some cases, patients were even transferred to other linguistic areas in Switzerland – a rare occurrence in normal times – to ensure they received treatment. 

How many beds are available in each canton? 

Generally speaking it is not in the interests of hospitals to keep ICU beds empty at the ready – which is why many hospitals have been able to increase the capacity as demand has gone up.

As reported by Watson, while the number of beds has been boosted significantly, ICU capacity was increased by a larger number of beds in the spring. 

This suggests that more beds may be made available if hospitalisations continue to increase. 

Due to these efforts, Switzerland’s ICU Monitoring authority estimated there were 258 ICU beds free in all of Switzerland as at November 18th. 

Only two cantons – Schwyz and Fribourg – have hit their full capacity, while two others – Solothurn and Aargau – are in a critical range. 

The following chart shows the percentage of beds which are being used in each canton in relation to the current expanded capacity of each canton’s ICUs. 

NOTE: No data is available for Appenzeller Innerrhoden and Obwalden. 

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HEALTH

The essential Swiss websites you need to use for health matters

If you just moved to Switzerland (or even if you have lived here for a while), your learning curve about health-related matters in the country may be steep. These sites will help you find the information you need.

The essential Swiss websites you need to use for health matters

Staying healthy is probably one of your top priorities, but doing so in a foreign country is not easy.

That is why having some reliable resources that you can check out and follow will be helpful.

First: The Local

No, we are not doctors, but we have published a number of factual articles over the years about many aspects of healthcare in Switzerland that our readers find helpful.

You can find a compilation of these health-related stories here

Federal Office of Public Health 

Obviously, when it comes to matters of health, the Health Ministry has lots of information that will be relevant to you at one time or another.

Aside from matters of health policy (which is important for all residents of Switzerland), the site also has a regularly updated Infectious Diseases Dashboard to let you know what communicable illnesses are currently circulating in Switzerland — and how to avoid them.

It also provides age-specific health information and recommendations — for instance, for children and teenagers, as well as for the elderly.

Hospital websites

Individual hospitals in your area are good sources of information as well, and many of them are in English.

You can find there general health information, care and treatment options, online emergency room signup, new medical technologies being used, and other patient resources:

Geneva University Hospitals (HUG)

Vaud University Hospital (CHUV)

Zurich University Hospital

Basel University Hospital 

If you live in an area without a university medical centre, your local hospital is also a valuable source of health-related information.

Appointment booking platform

This website is especially useful for people who don’t yet have a doctor in Switzerland but need to set an appointment with one. 

It gives you an option of choosing a specialty and location, and then displays doctor’s names and addresses, background information about them, and which time slots they have available.

You can easily set up an appointment this way.

Your health insurer’s website

This may not be an intuitive choice for impartial information about healthcare but you may be surprised.

For instance, Sanitas insurance site has information about emergency care decisions, and how to void unnecessary medical treatments.

CSS has health information geared specifically to men and women.

Helsana talks about ways to combat stress and sleep problems.

These are just a few examples on what valuable tips you can find on your insurer’s website.

Websites devoted to specific medical conditions

If you seek information about a specific illness — such as treatment options in Switzerland — there are plenty of online resources for that as well.

For instance:

Heart and cardiovascular 

Diabetes 

Osteoporosis 

Mental illness 

General pain 

Other diseases 

Last but not least, while not related to health, these websites will also provide useful information for international residents:

The Swiss websites that can help you save money
 
The most useful website resources to help you get Swiss citizenship 
 
 

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