Dispute over Lower Austrian hospitals

Declaring war on the major “healthcare debacle”

In a way, the SPÖ is calling for open-heart surgery on Lower Austria's healthcare system

(Bild: Mathis Fotografie)

Closures and restrictions of hospital departments, hospital doctors resigning by the dozen - the climate in Lower Austria's healthcare system is becoming increasingly harsh. The SPÖ is now also playing hardball: It is proposing the dissolution of the state health agency!  

The turbulence in local hospitals is leaving its mark on state politics. Shortly before the end of the maternity ward in Waidhofen an der Ybbs on March 24 and after the announcement of restrictions at the ENT department in Mistelbach, the SPÖ will be asking the provincial parliament tomorrow: "Which hospital ward will close next?"

The Provincial Health Agency is increasingly becoming a black box. No one can see inside.

Hannes Weninger, SPÖ

Accusations against the state coalition
The Social Democrats have identified a "health debacle" on the part of the black-blue state coalition and have had a topical hour put on the state parliament agenda under this title. Hannes Weninger, head of the Social Democrats' parliamentary group, outlines the direction in which things are heading: "Lower Austria is pouring an enormous amount of money into a system that is extremely inefficient."

Everyone must now pull together so that we can find the doctors we need to keep the ENT department in Mistelbach fully operational

Jochen Danninger, ÖVP

Control over hospitals
The comrades are targeting the Provincial Health Agency (LGA) in particular. This agency is not obliged to provide information to the state parliament. Weninger: "This is no longer acceptable. It is not acceptable for the state to lose control over its healthcare facilities." The SPÖ party leader draws his conclusions from this: "One must ask whether it would not be better to dissolve the state health agency and reintegrate the clinics into the state administration."

"SPÖ should rather look for doctors"
Even before the expected heated debate in the state parliament on Thursday, the ÖVP countered. On the one hand, SPÖ state councillor Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig is also responsible for the healthcare system, on the other hand, the Social Democrats could have made a contribution to securing hospital departments long ago, according to ÖVP party leader Jochen Danniner: "They should have used their energy to recruit new doctors for our clinics." A current hour would not persuade anyone to take up a position as a specialist in a Lower Austrian hospital.