Caring

The conditions in the Binnengasthuis were most likely very different from what is expected from a hospital nowadays.

The abuses that took place here were pointed out several times by the board of the hospital to the city council of Amsterdam. The drinking problems of the caretakers and service staff was a serious issue. The professors of the hospice regularly complained about the abuse of strong alcoholic beverages. In addition, the staff of the men's and women's departments would sometimes get together in the evenings to drink noisily, which caused many disruptions.

Another abuse that was eventually banned, was the illegal sale of hot drinks such as coffee and tea, bread, and meat to the sick by the staff. Wages were low, so this was probably a way for them to generate additional income. However, the ban did not improve the situation for the patients. In 1882, the board complained that hot drinks were rarely distributed directly to the sick. The drinks were placed on a large table in the middle of the halls and the patients had to get the drinks themselves. Those who were unable to do so were out of luck.

The purpose of the people who worked there was to help and care for the sick, not to make money off them. Yet it was difficult for the clinics to hire better staff, because working there was not held in high esteem and was seen as a last resort for many domestic servants. On 11 October 1882, a large-scale investigation into the working conditions in the Binnengasthuis revealed how unappealing they were. Working hours were very long, leaving people with short nights to rest. When there were not enough employees, people sometimes slept only a few hours. Food was bad, wages were low, the sleeping quarters were too hot in summer and too cold in winter. The furniture was of low quality and provided very little comfort. Additionally, there was no clear separation between household duties and tending to the sick. As a result, the care staff also had to do household chores, such as cleaning. People from higher social circles with more knowledge about caring for the sick were less likely to work at the Binnengasthuis because of this.

There were already ideas in 1860 to improve conditions by clearly separating the domestic and care tasks within the hospice and hiring separate staff. This would reduce the workload and leave more time to care for the sick. In addition, the plan was to offer higher wages to attract personnel from the higher classes. However, this plan was rejected, so there was little change during the times Johanna was in the Binnengasthuis.