I was in hospital, again, for the 10th time or so within the past year – two reasons why I post about it

This is something I had posted on LinkedIn, but as there it’s not publicly accessible (and I cannot share it e.g. on Bluesky), I reposted it here. 
 
Last week I was in hospital, again, for the 10^th time or so within the past year (whether for emergency room admissions or routine hospitalisations due to my cancer). But why do I post about it now? For two reasons. Because, overall, the staff are amazing – whether support staff or medical staff, trainees or senior physicians, front-line staff or those behind the scenes! They are so friendly, helpful and understanding, it’s really impressive. (And to be honest, I’m probably not the easiest patient.) I’m just very grateful for these people. 
 
So on the one hand, this is a shout-out to these wonderful professionals! During COVID they were clapped as heroes, but then forgotten. And yet, here they are, still continuing to do good, day-in and day-out. But on the other hand, this is also a criticism of the German healthcare system, which is making things difficult for them. Good people fighting in a bad system is tragic. How much more could they do in a better system! And now I read that further cost-saving measures are discussed. Given what I have seen over the past year, this is deeply concerning.
 
I noticed just how strained the system is: Staffing levels are so low that when a few nurses fall ill, doctors have to step in to ensure basic care, leaving them e.g. less time for optimising therapies for their patients. Staff having to repeatedly record the same patient information also adds unnecessary workload. Looking into some administrative offices can feel like stepping back into the 1980s, with shelves full of binders and folders because so much of the system still relies on paper. 
 
Decision-makers must know all that. Health is something that’s important to all – left and right, rich and poor, everyone. Everybody can fall ill and then wants good care. In this context, being a private patient matters less than one might think: if the system crumbles, also their care suffers. Having a private insurance has advantages, for sure (and I am glad I have an add-on insurance for hospitalisations), but also private patients are affected when the system deteriorates. Why strengthening healthcare does not receive higher political priority, I really cannot fathom.
 
So that's my post – a tribute to the people working in healthcare, and a little rant about the German healthcare system and current funding priorities. To be clear, things are still working: Germany still offers very good medical care, modern equipment and access to innovative therapies. But the cracks in the system are visible, and the strain on staff is evident. That’s why the word “still” matters. And it’s not least because many healthcare professionals are so dedicated that things are still working: the staff are better than the system. We’re all fortunate to have them. Both they and the system deserve more support.