The Poison Control Centre is facing a workplace crisis, with the situation being so bad that Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke has appointed a crisis manager to deal with the staff fallout, reports De Morgen.
The report unveils a series of issues including an exodus of experienced doctors, inadequate time dedicated to produce scientific studies, and mounting tension between the staff and the administration.
Accusations have been levied against the centre's director, Anne-Marie Descamps, who is blamed for a "toxic" environment that pits employees against each other and pressures them to return from sick leave prematurely.
Since 2019, 25 staff members have left the institution, more than the current number of employees. Previously, morning services were handled by three people and four in the afternoon.
Now, there are never more than two employees at a time. Even, the round-the-clock service was shut down at night in September due to staff shortages.
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The team sent a letter to the board of directors this month to express their discontent regarding the workload. This forced the Public Health Minister, Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit), to order the appointment of a crisis manager, who will present a plan of action within the coming weeks.
In response, the Poison Control Centre confirmed its relentless efforts to improve the situation, particularly through new recruitments.
