In the Eisenerz region

Road closed: New concern for emergency doctor care

Mario Lindner (SPÖ) is calling for an emergency doctor support point near Eisenerz.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Jürgen Radspieler, Parlamentsdirektion/Simonis)

A mudslide has buried the B115 over the Präbichl, the closure could last until Sunday. Waiting times are to be expected on a local alternative route for cars. This fires up an old discussion: when will there finally be an emergency doctor solution for the region?

The best flying weather prevails on Wednesday: should an emergency occur in the remote Styrian Eisenstrasse region, which also includes communities such as Eisenerz, Landl, Altenmarkt or Wildalpen, a rescue helicopter can at least be deployed - and thus halfway compensate for the road restrictions between Vordernberg and Eisenerz. But what would happen in bad weather, heavy snowfall or fog, as is often the case here in spring and fall?

Mario Lindner wonders the same thing. The SPÖ member of the National Council from Landl has been calling for a ground-based emergency doctor solution for the region for years. In other words, a base with an emergency ambulance and appropriately trained doctors. Currently, the teams have to come from Leoben, Rottenmann or Waidhofen an der Ybbs (Lower Austria) - with correspondingly long travel times.

B115 closed

• The mudslide started in Silbergraben (municipality of Vordernberg) and buried seven cars - fortunately there were no injuries. The closure should be lifted by Sunday at the latest.
• Since Wednesday, 4 pm, a "bypass lane" for vehicles under 3.5 tons has been available in the 500-metre-long section. "However, due to the relatively long section, which is regulated by traffic lights, longer waiting times are to be expected. Heavy goods vehicles will continue to be diverted via the A9," says traffic officer and Deputy Governor Anton Lang.
• Mud and debris must be removed from the roadway and a retention area behind the adjacent avalanche dam. Several excavators and trucks are being used to remove the material.

Eleven helicopter missions in 72 hours
A concept has been developed and Hieflau is considered an ideal central base. "In a region like this, the emergency doctor would also have to have extended skills, such as treating children with very high fevers," says Lindner. He illustrates just how necessary a solution is with the latest figures from the second weekend in August: There were eleven rescue helicopter missions at his Red Cross station in Altenmarkt-Großreifling alone from Friday morning to Monday morning.

Green Party member of parliament Lambert Schönleitner also spoke out on Wednesday: "The current events are another wake-up call: it's time for the state government to finally get its act together and stop procrastinating."

No matter where someone lives, healthcare must not make a difference.

Gesundheitslandesrat Karlheinz Kornhäusl

Bild: Michaela Lorber

In the region, people are worried about an "inadequate compromise", as they say behind closed doors. In fact, a separate emergency doctor base is probably unrealistic at the moment. In response to an inquiry from "Krone", Regional Health Councillor Karlheinz Kornhäusl (ÖVP) names two measures that are to come into force in the fall. Firstly, doctors are to register as first responders and be alerted to medical emergencies in their vicinity via an app. 

Emergency doctor will be connected virtually
Kornhäusl has also announced a "virtual emergency doctor base". Emergency paramedics with advanced training will be connected to an emergency doctor via special video software and will be able to administer certain medications under the doctor's guidance, for example. However, it is doubtful whether these measures will be enough to allay concerns.