Problem is, that's how they get away with everything.
They fix nothing, then wait for somebody to need them enough, or have compassion enough to handle their mess.
Basically here, they are saying: we didn't listen to all those competent people that told us we should have cleaned this system a long time ago because one day it will bite us back. We didn't think technical debt was a thing. It has always worked. And it's virtual. And IT is always exaggerating anyway.
Now it does bite them back, and do they take responsibility ?
No. They ask for competent people to have mercy and save the day because the situation is dire. Because this is special this time, unlike the other times.
This is completely not like with the health care system that never got fixed and now the medical personal is paying for it so that the people don't suffer as much from this mismanagement.
They will not pay more. They will no fix anything. They will not respect you more, change the way things are done, or take any responsibility for this. And in fact they will probably guilt trip you into give up your health to overwork on this with less resources and for less pay because it's an emergency.
A friend of mine works in an hospital right now. She has been at work for 15 days straight. They already told her she won't get paid for the days she was not supposed to work but did.
Then as a final fuck you, if this turns out ok, if the catastrophe is avoided, they will get the reward.
The nurses or the programmers ? They will be forgotten in a week. Nothing will change.