New developments

ENT outpatient clinic open longer, goal is full operation

Mistelbach Hospital remains in the headlines: The LGA changed opening plans, the SPÖ started a petition.

(Bild: Huber Patrick)

The excitement surrounding the ENT situation at Mistelbach Hospital has generated a lot of discussion. The development of the situation has been correspondingly numerous, emotional and partly overlapping in time: the state health agency LGA is changing operating times, while the SPÖ wants to put pressure on parliament.

The SPÖ spoke out again at the weekend: State party chairman Sven Hergovich and Mistelbach's district chairwoman, National Councillor Melanie Erasim, have announced that they are launching a petition against the possible closure of the ENT department at Mistelbach State Hospital: "As a Weinviertel resident, she knows the health situation in the region particularly well," says Erasim.

Our petition should provide a tailwind for this important healthcare facility and I will also present it in parliament.

NR-Abgeordnete Melanie Erasim

"Operation from Monday to Sunday throughout the transition period"
The Provincial Health Agency (LGA) has now announced a new approach in its efforts to replace the six specialists who left the department by any means necessary. 
While in the first phase of the further measures - as reported by the "Krone" - there was still talk of opening the outpatient clinic daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the presence of specialists, the latest information is that there is once again talk of continuous operating and opening hours. For capacity utilization reasons, this would now be from Monday to Thursday, 7 am to 7 pm. 

We are doing everything we can to solve the shortage of specialists. This is not a predictable process, but it does not mean the end of operations.

Katja Steiniger, Geschäftsführerin der Gesundheit Weinviertel GmbH der LGA

LGA managing director denies closure rumors
This is also confirmed by Katja Steininger, the responsible Managing Director of the LGA, in an interview with "Krone": "The range of ENT services will be restricted from the beginning of May during this period. However, this measure should be seen as temporary," she emphasizes, stating that this situation will last for "a maximum of six months".

By then, everything should be in place with combined forces so that there can no longer be any talk of a permanent closure of the ward: "Now it is a matter of countering the situation with targeted recruiting - the aim is to resume full operations."