Health Minister Ab Klink has told MPs that hospital Accident and Emergency departments in the Netherlands are not up to the job. His judgement is based on an inquiry into 27 hospitals.

The inquiry was set up to rate the quality of care, but unexpectedly indicated none of the units investigated were up to basic standards on all fronts. Some junior doctors and nursing staff were found to lack basic training and a number of hospitals failed to offer doctors instruction in reanimation techniques.

Mr Klink is demanding that all Accident and Emergency units have a doctor permanently on duty and that all doctors have enough training. The improvements will have to be made by April.

photo: Ab Klink (VWS)