NETHERLANDS: Care For The Most Vulnerable In Society

Radio Netherlands gives a roundup of today's press. AMSTERDAM (Expatica), February 8, 2008: Violent behaviour NRC Handelsblad reports research covering 59 nursing homes for elderly dementia patients. It indicates that the psychiatric symptoms differ in similar groups of patients depending on the institution. For example, in one unit, nine out of ten residents display violent behaviour, whereas in another, it is only one in six. The same goes for other problems such as apathy, depression and anxiety. Nursing expert Sytse Zuidema explains: "I knew it mattered how the patients felt and that it wasn't good if lack of staff meant that there are no activities. But I wasn't aware that it had such a major effect." Psychiatric problems De Volkskrant reports that an experiment to forcibly detain tramps who are suspected of having psychiatric problems has failed. It was designed to help the estimated tens of thousands of people thought to be living rough because of mental problems. However, only 87 people have been forcibly taken for observation in clinics since the trial began two years ago. One reason for this was a legal ruling that a person could not be held against their will without a proper medical diagnosis. This, to a large extent, made the trial unworkable. An expert in the field is quoted as saying: "When the measure was introduced, I thought, 'this will come to nothing.' And I was right." Infection risk The AD reports that 323 men who underwent prostate tests at a hospital in Leiderdorp since 2005 may have been infected with diseases including hepatitis or HIV. Two weeks ago, a surgeon noticed dirt on an instrument used for taking biopsies. The system of cleaning and infecting instruments seems to have been at fault. A hospital spokesman played down the probability that any infections had actually occurred. However, the paper says this is the latest in a series of incidents involving infected medical instruments in the Netherlands. Apparently, the Health Care Inspectorate is launching a national inquiry. An spokesman tells us: "We want to find out if there's a link between all these incidents". By Mike Wilcox Copyright Radio Netherlands 2008