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The KAGes and the state of Styria are now taking the first measures to improve the situation in the clinics: In the future, there should be more money for the nursing areas. In addition, more screws are to be turned.
400 beds are currently blocked throughout Styria due to the lack of staff in the KAGes. Before Christmas there was a crisis summit in the office of Health Minister Juliane Bogner-Strauß (ÖVP) – the first measures were presented on Monday.
As of January 1, 2023, both qualified nurses in the child and youth sector and those in psychiatry will receive a gross annual increase of 2,700 euros – the starting salary of a nurse will thus increase by around 240 euros. The salary increase is also argued with a three-semester additional training.
“We have an increased need to recruit employees, especially at the clinic in the field of paediatrics, and there it is of course also an incentive to give them additional value. We have a similar phenomenon in psychiatry,” said Gerhard Stark, CEO of KAGes, on Monday.
Students should be consulted
Furthermore, the on-call service will be increased from 3.70 euros per hour to 10 euros, and it will also be possible in future to work planned overtime – this increases the security of the duty roster. In addition, there will be more money for students, according to Bogner-Strauß: “It is very important for me that the KAGes becomes even more exciting as a training location for students. That is why we will increase the payment for the clinical practical year and the counterpart in dentistry to 900 euros per month – in the hope that more students will find their way into the KAGes”.
Salary scheme revision required
Currently, 360 employees are missing in the KAGes. These measures would not solve all problems immediately, but they are the first important steps, said the central works council of KAGes, Michael Tripold: “There are also important measures for some areas that we have been calling for for a long time, but we have to spread the word . It’s about us revising the pay scale for healthcare professionals. That will and must be the next step this year.”
In a nationwide comparison, Styria is almost at the bottom when it comes to salaries in the health sector – the experts agree that this is where you have to start in any case; It is said that negotiations are currently underway.