Intensive Care Policy Debate and Exhibition at EU Parliament
SEMICYUC estuvo representada en esta importante reunión en el Parlamento Europeo el 15 de Mayo de 2012 por el presidente D.Jose Cuñat y por D. Gumersindo González.
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![]() ![]() ![]() Several ESICM Executive Committee members, including President Andrew Rhodes, President-Elect Jean-Daniel Chiche and Richard Beale, Chair of the Research Committee voiced their opinions during a Policy Debate centred on Improving Patient Outcomes in Intensive Care held at the European Parliament on May 15th. “Currently, Europe lags behind the US in terms of resources—human and institutional, to deal with this vital growing need for acute and critical care in the coming years,” said Andrew Rhodes, President of the European Society of Intensive Care (ESICM) and a UK-based clinician. “Lack of recognition of the importance of intensive care and the specialty training it requires has a major impact on the level of care we can provide patients and influences overall outcomes.” The policy debate, organised by ESICM, in collaboration with the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and hosted by MEP Cristian Bu?oi (ALDE; Romania), was geared at raising awareness of the field within the EU Parliament, whose members are in the process of drafting and enacting several key directives which directly affect those professionals working in Intensive Care and influence patient outcomes. “Making the link between the providers of intensive care and the EU healthcare agenda is essential,” said Dr. Bu?oi. “Because intensive care is the most expensive, technologically advanced, resource-intensive area and decisive area of medical care in that patients are in life-threatening situations—we must look beyond just the costs and see that by making an investment in intensive care, we are making a vital investment in the future of Europe and its’ citizens.” Several high-ranking members and National Societies representatives were on hand to highlight issues and the current status of intensive care in their countries. Dr. Cornelius Bartels, a Senior Expert in Bioterrorism at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reflected on the impact of epidemics or highly threatening infections on consumption of staff resources. He noted that in his home country, Germany, each isolated patient required round-the-clock care of five doctors and eight nurses. He stressed that the special multi-disciplinary training of intensivists (intensive care specialists) made them the best choice in treatment of epidemics and infections, “ICU professionals have the most comprehensive knowledge of disease and processes and they deal with nosocomial infections and antimicrobial resistance on a daily basis,” explained Dr. Bartels. “This is a specialty that deserves recognition and investment in anticipation of emergent needs in care.” The patients' perspective: A particularly poignant moment of the debate was when H1N1-flu survivor Laura Wagner spoke about her experiences in intensive care. She was six months pregnant when she contracted the flu in 2010, and spent nearly two months in a Paris intensive Care Unit. “High intensity, hands-on care,” said Rhodes. “Patients tell us and statistics prove that while technology has helped outcomes over the long-term, machines cannot do it alone. To meet the needs of critical patients of the future, to deliver a high level of care, we need more well trained staff— doctors and nurses at the bed side.” The policy debate marked the launch of a two-day exhibition and campaign in support of the LIFE-PRIORITY Fund (an ESICM initiative) at the EU Parliament aimed at heightening public awareness about the importance of intensive care. The exhibition showcased critical care equipment and practitioners were on hand to train EU members, staff and the public life saving techniques including CPR. Thousands of participants received training and visited the Wheels of LIFE; a fully-equipped mobile intensive care that was located in front of the EU Parliament for the two-day event. Other Notes on the EU Policy Debate MEP Busoi
ESICM President Andy Rhodes
DG SANCO- Stefano Soro
ESICM Chair of Research Committee- Richard Beale
ECDC- Cornelius Bartels
ESICM President-Elect JD Chiche
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