Changes in the healthcare system: Plans to close hospitals cause excitement

Changes in the healthcare system: Plans to close hospitals cause excitement

In Lower Austria there are heated discussions about a recently published expert paper, which suggests closing four out of 27 hospital locations. These measures should contribute to saving resources in the health system. The SPÖ in particular raises sharp resistance to these plans, which it refers to as intolerable and as an “attack on the patients”.

The document made by the "Kronen Zeitung" last week provides for the hospitals to bring the hospitals in Hollabrunn, Korneuburg and Stockerau together to a new hospital in the South-West Weinviertel. In addition, the Gänserndorf location could be converted into a primary care center. Other hospitals, such as those in Melk, Klosterneuburg, Gmünd, and Waidhofen an der Thaya, are to be transformed into special hospitals without acute care.

The process has not yet been completed

The state health agency (LGA) has emphasized that this document only serves as a work document as part of the Lower Austrian health package. The process for the development of recommendations for action will continue until the beginning of 2025, so that there are currently no final suggestions.

The criticism of the SPÖ was not long in coming. Rudolf Silvan, Member of the National Council of the SPÖ, described the intended closures as "completely irresponsible". In order to express further concern, the SPÖ plans a press conference under the motto "No to hospital closings in Lower Austria" in St. Pölten, which is to take place on Thursday.

position of the state government

On the other hand, the regional councilor Ludwig Schleritzko from the ÖVP emphasizes that no final decision has been made so far. The results of the health package should serve to tackle existing problems such as the lack of personnel and to secure the entire health system sustainably.

The LGA also made it clear that the healthcare staff will receive the first information regarding possible changes. Until then, it is an ongoing process in which numerous ideas are developed and discussed. A final result is still pending and the current considerations are still non -binding.

The planned measures could have far -reaching consequences for health care in the region. Therefore, it remains to be seen how the discussions and the upcoming process will develop and what specific results can ultimately be achieved. More information on this topic can also be found in a report at www.kosmo.at