Funding gap threatens new hospice: Neumünster in the Zwickmühle?

Funding gap threatens new hospice: Neumünster in the Zwickmühle?

Neumünster, Deutschland - In Neumünster, the planning for a new stationary hospice is in danger. As the Kieler Nachrichten gets the project from Kieler Social Ministry only 250,000 euros in government funding, even though 360,000 euros were actually planned. This financing gap of 110,000 euros could endanger the realization of the hospice, which is supposed to bear the name Maria & Martha. The Diakonie Altholstein, which is responsible for the construction, would like to build the hospice on a property in the Einfeld district and has already received a building permit. The total costs amount to 5.5 million euros, with a planned construction in spring 2025.

The planned Maria & Martha Hospice is of great importance for the region, since Neumünster and surrounding areas currently have no inpatient hospice. The Diakonie Altholstein emphasizes that inpatient hospices are indispensable for patients in their last phase of life-especially if home care is no longer possible. "First and foremost, we want to improve the quality of life of the dying people," said Heinrich Deicke from Diakonie Altholstein. There is an urgent need for more beds, since Schleswig-Holstein, according to current recommendations, is missing 19 beds for better supply density.

The local hospice initiative that has been active since 1995 sees the new hospice to fulfill a long-cherished dream. "A stationary hospice has been a place of longing for the Neumünster hospice initiative since the foundation was founded," emphasized Annbritt Menck, chair of the initiative. The close cooperation between the Hospice Initiative and Diakonie plays a central role in the implementation of this important project, which aims to close a gap in patient care.