Appointment chaos for ophthalmologists: Why desperate patients in Wetterau

Appointment chaos for ophthalmologists: Why desperate patients in Wetterau

Reichelsheim, Deutschland - The search for an ophthalmologist can become a true odyssey! A boy from Reichelsheim suffers from a Schiel problem and his desperate grandmother is faced with an apparently insurmountable hurdle: Despite the official oversupply in the Wetteraukreis with 116.13 percent, as the Hessen Association (KVH) confirms, access to an appointment remains a nightmare. "You can sometimes despair at trying to get a doctor's appointment," complains grandma, who wants to remain anonymous.

The situation is alarming: over 20,000 inhabitants per ophthalmologist sits in the region, and yet there are no new patients who are accepted! The grandson urgently needs a transfer to the university hospital, but the ophthalmologist practices are overloaded. "With many practices, nobody goes on the phone anymore," says the worried grandmother. Time is urging, because the hidden squint could have serious consequences for the boy's eyesight. "The medical care is currently tending to the disaster", she sums up the situation.

The reality of oversupply

KVH spokesman Karl M. Roth admits that there is a problem. The 116.13 percent of the degree of supply only reflects the theory, because many patients with less urgent concerns block the appointments of those who need urgent help. And although the number of ophthalmologists has increased in the region, the question remains whether they also treat children. In the third quarter of 2023, only 18 out of 20 ophthalmologists treated children and adolescents, which made the search for a suitable doctor even more difficult.

Roth also warns of the lack of staff in the practices and criticizes the excessive number of clinics that bind resources. Affected people can contact the appointment service point on the phone number 116 117, which must provide an appointment within four weeks - but often only after longer travel routes. The big ones of the system seem to let the little patients down, while the grandmother worries that the eyes of her grandson will not make it. Is medical care finally tailored to the needs of patients? The answer is in the stars.