(edit title) Low percentage of hospital beds Corona virus concerns Sweden Options

[hoodrat]

You might assume that with the high tax that's paid in Sweden, the country would have a good number of hospital beds per 1000 in the population. With coronavirus spreading a lot of statistics are flying around, but an interesting one I found here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_OECD_...y_hospital_beds

It seems Sweden is woefully ill-equipped compared to many other countries should this situation get out of hand.

[skogsbo]

What percent of those who catch it will need a hospital bed... what's the rate of spread, average hospital stay, beds available etc.. it's easy to panic over nothing, or just let facts rule instead.

More people will die this year of heart disease, normal flu, cancer, diabetes etc. It's important to keep a sense of perspective and not be driven by the press and a literal handful of cases in sweden and so far zero fatalities.

It's coming, over the next year we'll all get a sniff of it, but it's not the end of the world. If it mutates, just like any flu virus does, then we may or may not have more to panic over. If it was really horrendous, having 1 or 2 more beds per 1000 folk is meaningless. What matters are intensive care beds and ventilators, as it's a respiratory illness, normal bed count is worthless and indicates nothing.

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

It's being overblown in the press, there is no "news" in stories about the "normal" flu which is much more serious, any more, so they invent a new doom to stay in business...

This too shall pass...

[nativeswedishengineer]

You might assume that with the high tax that's paid in Sweden, the country would have a good number of hospital beds per 1000 in the population. With coronavirus spreading ... (show full quote)

You might assume that with the high tax that's paid in Sweden, the country would have a good number of hospital beds per 1000 in the population. With coronavirus spreading a lot of statistics are flying around, but an interesting one I found here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_OECD_...y_hospital_beds

It seems Sweden is woefully ill-equipped compared to many other countries should this situation get out of hand. ... (hide full quote)

If you leave, the number of hospital beds per capita will increase slightly.

[hoodrat]

I think comparing to other known illnesses is a dumb idea

[skogsbo]

I think comparing to other known illnesses is a dumb idea

You think, buy why is it?

You say it's a dumb idea, but you were the one who quoted number of normal beds for other known illnesses, not icu beds or available ventilators for corona.

Because it gives a sense of scale? You didn't feel the need to post about a shortage of beds for existing illnesses which have killed thousands already this year?

Don't get me wrong it's not nice, folk will die, but folk are already dying from other existing conditions.

The only reason for quarantine is to slow the spread so medical services for the vulnerable aren't stretched as much.

[Essingen55]

Well it is certainly and interesting and surprising table. Although why a country would want to have 13% beds for their population is a bit puzzling.

[skogsbo]

Well it is certainly and interesting and surprising table. Although why a country would want to have 13% beds for their population is a bit puzzling.

It's a stat that's meaningless without context.

Why are there more or less beds!? Is social care dire so instead of leaving hospital to go home, in respite care, care homes etc they are stuck in hospital using valuable bed space, so hospitals are oversized?

Is the waiting time for a doctor, shortage of pharmacy access etc so long folk are more ill when they reach hospital and thus need to be in longer?

Are additional infections like mrsa keeping people in care longer.

Either way it's meaningless and doesn't indicate a nations readiness for a pandemic.

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

Nobody can be ready for a pandemic, that's why they are so bad...new strains of disease leave us all vulnerable in a pandemic...

[hoodrat]

Nobody can be ready for a pandemic, that's why they are so bad...new strains of disease leave us all vulnerable in a pandemic...

Which raises the original point, that, as we know it's possible for these things to occur, why is Sweden lacking hospital beds compared to other nations? The healthcare system here isn't even "universal" and tax is high compared to others in the list.

We also know many other frontline services in Sweden have been stretched for years!

Where does the money go?

It's only now when we are almost inevitably going to see a huge strain on hospitals that the lack of resources will be very apparent.

[skogsbo]

A bed per capita count isn't necessarily a sign that there is a shortage of beds.. if you are cured quicker and sent home there is less need for beds, if social care in the community is better, if a nation in general is healthier, or folk just die quickly rather than from prolonged illness.

Coronavirus doesn't need normal beds, otherwise you'll be just as well sat at home. A small percentage will need intensive care and ventilators, these are the beds that matter.

[Gimp]

A bed per capita count isn't necessarily a sign that there is a shortage of beds.. if you are cured quicker and sent home there is less need for beds, if social care in th ... (show full quote)

A bed per capita count isn't necessarily a sign that there is a shortage of beds.. if you are cured quicker and sent home there is less need for beds, if social care in the community is better, if a nation in general is healthier, or folk just die quickly rather than from prolonged illness.

Coronavirus doesn't need normal beds, otherwise you'll be just as well sat at home. A small percentage will need intensive care and ventilators, these are the beds that matter. ... (hide full quote)

It is painfully known that the hospitals in Sweden are ill equipped. Pun intended.


And yeah, who needs hospital beds when there is already a shortage of doctors and medical care given in a timely fashion.

[hoodrat]

Do you know the percentage of people requiring hospitalisation for Coronavirus????

There is no reason to suggest Sweden has a system to offer a better or quicker cure?

[skogsbo]

Do you know the percentage of people requiring hospitalisation for Coronavirus????. There is no reason to suggest Sweden has a system to offer a better or quicker cure?

No. You are missing the point, it requires specialist care, so the number of general beds available per capita isn't relevant.

If you want to judge a countries healthcare you should Google child mortality rates, average longevity, cancel survival rates.. etc. The number of beds isn't really an indicator of anything other than the number of beds, which I don't think is the point you are trying to make.

However if you have a 1000 people, say 500 catch the virus etc. Having 2,3,10 normal beds per 1000 isn't really going to have any impact on treatment?

Better to cover the basics, good hygiene, eat well and sleep well, folks bodies will be better prepared. This also ties in well with Nordic culture of work to life, not live to work. Those burning the candle at both beds, will have weaker immune systems.

[Essingen55]

However if you have a 1000 people, say 500 catch the virus etc. Having 2,3,10 normal beds per 1000 isn't really going to have any impact on treatment?

You still need to put them in a bed and already the lack of beds in the UK seems to be becoming an issue....

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-...MILES-away.html