NÖ: Health Pact Includes Hospital Merger

The number of emergency doctor locations will decrease from 32 to 21. Following the presentation on Monday, the concept is expected to be approved by the state government and parliament this week.

"Health Pact 2040+"

The project presented at the Landhaus ship in St. Pölten is based on several months of discussions under the working title "Health Pact 2040+". This vision includes two central clinics in the state capital and Wiener Neustadt, which will also have the highest level of specialization. Regional facilities with focus functions are to offer extended initial and acute care as well as specialist specializations. The locations Zwettl and Horn (both Waldviertel), Amstetten (Mostviertel), Krems, Tulln (Central Region), Baden, Mödling (Thermal Region), and Mistelbach (Weinviertel) are predestined for this, explained Markus Klamminger, chairman of the expert committee.

There are many changes in the Weinviertel. The Weinviertel South-West Regional Hospital is to unite the facilities in Hollabrunn, Korneuburg, and Stockerau and form the "modern medical flagship" for the region, as it was stated. Additionally, it will also become a hospital with regional focus functions. A site selection commission will advise on the most suitable location. "Somewhere along the Hollabrunn-Stockerau-Korneuburg axis with good transport connections" is where the hospital will be located, Klamminger anticipated. Until realization - a time horizon of twelve to 15 years is expected - the existing three facilities should cooperate more closely. Later, Stockerau and Korneuburg will no longer be operated as acute hospitals. In Hollabrunn, the transformation into a specialist center will take place, and a primary care center with permanently guaranteed initial care is also to be established. Also in the Weinviertel, a primary care unit will be established at the site of the Medical Center Gänserndorf, which will be handed over to the city municipality.

In Gmünd, a new health clinic with a primary care unit and specialist center will be built. A total investment of up to 120 million euros is planned, with 30 million euros in the first phase by 2027. The new Gmünd health clinic is to be directly connected to the already existing cross-border health center Healthacross MED Gmünd.

Three previous acute hospitals will become clinics with special functions. In Klosterneuburg (Tulln district) and Waidhofen an der Thaya, a center for modern geriatric medicine will be established or expanded, and the Melk hospital will be further developed into a "beacon of care and geriatric medicine". Operating room capacities are to be expanded, while obstetric services are to be consolidated in Amstetten.

Connection of Emergency Doctor Locations to Clinics

Of the 21 planned future emergency doctor locations, 15 will be connected to hospitals, which is intended to alleviate the personnel situation. Six will have their own bases. Additionally, the number of Acute-Community-Nurse locations will be expanded from six to ten, emphasized Christian Fohringer, Managing Director of Notruf NÖ. 86 RTW-C emergency vehicles or emergency teams with paramedics and, if necessary, tele-emergency doctors will guarantee care. The first responder system - where volunteer first responders are also alerted - will also be expanded. A separate project will be set up to implement the "quite large reform," Fohringer emphasized. In air rescue, "availability will be specifically increased" and "capability expanded." The location of "Christophorus 3" in Wiener Neustadt will be converted to 24-hour operation, and in the future, rope and winch rescues will also be possible at night in the state.

Politically, the pact is expected to gain binding status this week. A decision in the state government meeting is planned for (tomorrow) Tuesday, and the topic will be addressed in the state parliament on Thursday. The concept developed was already appreciated on Monday by ÖVP State Councilor Ludwig Schleritzko, who is responsible for the hospitals. "We also stand politically behind the health plan," he emphasized. Reference was once again made to demographic change and the shortage of skilled workers. According to Schleritzko, there will be "smooth transitions," and all employees will have a job guarantee from the NÖ State Health Agency, with even more employees needed in the future. "The health facilities guarantee round-the-clock primary and emergency care. Anytime and anywhere," the state councilor also noted. Now a pact is becoming a plan, it is an "investment package for the best possible future care of the people." Some measures "will be implemented promptly," it was announced, "others need more time, more space, and new structures."

In any case, the focus will be on a "comprehensive, modern, and efficient health infrastructure," added State Councilor Christoph Luisser (FPÖ). In addition, there will be "more flexibility to best respond to regional differences, better networking between hospitals, specialists, and general practitioners, as well as a targeted strengthening of care and support services." The approach is "bold, innovative, and above all, future-oriented." By the end of the year, a comprehensive supply structure for Lower Austria is to be established within the framework of the Regional Health Structure Plan. From the perspective of State Councilor Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister (ÖVP), the expertise of care is also present in the health pact. The stationary and mobile sectors will need to be expanded in the future, and the topic of digitalization is also important.

"We have found a compromise," emphasized SPÖ state party leader State Councilor Sven Hergovich, who temporarily holds the health agendas in the state government after the departure of his party colleague Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig to the federal level. Based on an expert paper leaked last year, he had repeatedly criticized proposals to close hospitals in the past. Hergovich expressed satisfaction with the current pact, which was developed by around 50 experts. Decisive steps have been achieved from the SPÖ's perspective. Mentioned here were, for example, comprehensive primary, acute, and emergency care, the expansion of child and adolescent psychiatry, and a planned significant reduction in waiting times for surgeries and doctor appointments. "My approval depends on these promised improvements being implemented."

Experts Developed "Health Pact 2040+"

The "Health Pact 2040+" was developed since last year by national and international experts based on seven guiding principles, outlined project leader Volker Knestel. Subsequently, a target image for 2030 will now be created, announced Elisabeth Bräutigam, Head of Medicine and Care at the NÖ State Health Agency. The relocation of urology from Waidhofen an der Thaya to Horn, where it will be combined with surgery and gynecology, is to take place this year.

Politically, unanimity on the health pact was emerging for the state government meeting, where ÖVP, FPÖ, and SPÖ are represented. There could also be a broad majority in the state parliament on Thursday. However, the NEOS were initially cautious on Monday, referring to a press conference scheduled for Wednesday. The reform project was welcomed by Municipal Association President Johannes Pressl (ÖVP), who described it in a statement as a "necessary step to secure the health system."

(APA/Red)

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