Shock in Neuruppin: maternity hospital in Ludwigsfelde about to close?

Shock in Neuruppin: maternity hospital in Ludwigsfelde about to close?

The situation surrounding delivery rooms in the region is taking a worrying turn. In Ludwigsfelde, a town within the suburbs of Berlin, the delivery room of the Protestant hospital has recently been closed on weekends due to an acute shortage of staff. This means that expectant mothers in labor who want to give birth on Friday, Saturday or Sunday have to commute to Potsdam or other clinics to give birth to their children.

Bernd Christensen, the head of gynecology at the Neuruppin University Hospital, expresses concern about this development and describes it as the “beginning of the closure” of delivery rooms in the region. Despite the tense situation in Ludwigsfelde, the situation in Neuruppin remains stable, where 15 midwives, ten doctors and nine pediatric nurses currently work.

Birth rates and personnel situation

Although the Neuruppin clinic will not close, the numbers are alarming: Last year only 563 babies were born there, the lowest level in 25 years. Christensen explains that eight gynecologists' practices in the Osprignitz-Ruppin district have been closed in the last few months, further exacerbating the already critical situation.

On the other hand, however, there are also bright spots: this year, the first signs of a trend reversal are emerging. The number of births in Neuruppin has increased by 30 cases compared to the previous year. With the federal government returning to funding midwives through health insurance companies, the situation could stabilize. “We expect around 700 births in 2030,” says Christensen optimistically.

Comparison to the competition

In comparison, the situation in Ludwigsfelde, which has developed strongly and is attractive as a business location, looks strange. Around 450 children were recently born there every year, although the maternity clinic now has to demonstrate significant restrictions. This is surprising since the Mercedes-Benz factory in the city has a large number of employees.

The Oberhavel clinics in Oranienburg are more optimistic. Obstetrics there appears to be well positioned, with modernized delivery rooms and a stable number of specialist staff. Almost 700 children were born here in 2023.

At the Prignitz district hospital in Perleberg, however, a return to increasing birth rates is forecast. In 2023, 330 children were born there, and the clinic is well staffed with sufficient resources to support this development.

However, the closure of the delivery room in Ludwigsfelde remains a critical issue as it is uncertain whether this measure is only temporary. The future of the delivery room depends heavily on the recruitment of new doctors, which has not been successful so far.

The challenges in healthcare are diverse, and these developments require comprehensive solutions to ensure media and medical care. More information on this topic will be available provided here.