Rescue for Mechernich: Perinatal focus is retained!

Rescue for Mechernich: Perinatal focus is retained!

A dramatic turning point in hospital planning for the district of Euskirchen: On Monday, around 4 p.m., Martin Milde, managing director of the district hospital in Mechernich, presented his plans in the town hall. This was followed by exciting news from the NRW Ministry of Health-the shock wave of the impending deletions was alleviated by positive decisions! The good news: the perinatal focus for premature babies remains in Mechernich! This means that the supply of around 400 births is not at risk annually, and the expectant mothers no longer have to switch to Bonn or Cologne on long trips.

But what is behind this sudden stroke of luck? The ministry's hospital planning had announced massive cuts for rural areas in June, which could have catastrophic consequences for the district of Euskirchen. Martin Milde warned at the time: "This is bad for the circle. The rural area will bleed again." But the resistance from the population and political representatives was strong. A petition started and the city of Mechernich set up a resolution against the endangerment of health care. These efforts now seem to bear fruit: Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann has postponed the implementation of hospital planning to April and granted a transition period of one year.

Joy about the preservation of the perinatal focus

The enthusiasm in the district hospital is tangible! Dr. Tatjana Klug, chief physician for gynecology and obstetrics, beams: "I am totally happy that everyone has held together and we have heard." The positive news is also celebrated in the neighboring town of Euskirchen. Nicole Nettersheim, spokeswoman for the Marien Hospital, welcomes the decision as a great profit for premature babies. But not all messages are positive: there was still a negative decision for the "deep rectal interventions" area, and a contradiction is lodged here.

Despite the gratifying developments, the economic situation of the clinics remains tense. The ministry has not yet made any decisions for numerous performance groups and remains uncertainty. Milde emphasizes: "The ministry is currently not talking to the hospitals about individual performance groups." The district hospital, an important economic factor for Mechernich with around 1100 employees, could make a decisive contribution to the stability of the region. But the worries about the future are far from over!