SPÖ fumes over plans

Hospital closures are an “attack on health”

"No, no and no again," says SPÖ leader Sven Hergovich on the planned hospital closures in Lower Austria.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Attila Molnar)

The Lower Austrian SPÖ has issued a clear "no" to the secret plans uncovered by the "Krone" newspaper to close five regional hospitals. Explosive: two months before the local council elections in the largest federal state, the paper was already ready in the drawer. However, it should only have been made public after the elections, which were so important for the ÖVP in particular. In the meantime, the black state councillor responsible has also reacted.

Sven Hergovich wants to use all his political strength to prevent the secret plans of the black-blue state government uncovered by the "Krone". The SPÖ chairman is not sparing with the word "no": "We are clearly saying no to the closure of five hospitals and the de facto end of healthcare provision at five other locations," said Hergovich on Thursday in St. Pölten. He also rejects the closure of maternity wards in Klosterneuburg, Hollabrunn and Melk. In Waidhofen an der Ybbs, the gynecology department has already been closed.

"Health agency should be broken up"
The Oberrote would prefer to make savings in administration. What's more, he is calling for the state health agency, which was only set up in 2021, to be broken up. "A return to the old holding system would immediately save us 30 million euros a year. And just ask the people in our beautiful federal state. They will tell you that healthcare has not improved since then!" says Hergovich.

Rural areas are being starved
The revelation of the secret savings plans is, of course, a political penalty for the SPÖ chairman, which he would like to use against the black-blue coalition: "What Mikl-Leitner and Landbauer have quietly agreed here is nothing less than an attack on the health of the people of Lower Austria!" Hergovich is now calling for a location guarantee for all provincial hospitals: "It is unacceptable that the nearest hospital for a Waldviertel resident with a heart attack will be in the Czech Republic in future," he says, alluding to the thinning out of inpatient care, especially north of the Danube.

Money is limited. But we have to ensure that the financial resources do not get caught up in a bloated administrative apparatus, but reach the hospitals and thus the patients.

Sven Hergovich, Vorsitzender der SPÖ Niederösterreich

And: it will not work without a "radical reform" of the state health agency. Hergovich: "Managers will receive a huge bonus if they adhere to the so-called cost containment plans." As a result, vacant posts for doctors and nursing staff are "deliberately" not filled for several months. "And all so that those responsible can collect their financial rewards!"

Backlash from ÖVP-Schleritzko
Of course, the People's Party will not accept the criticism from the Reds. Four hours after Hergovich published his accusations at a press conference, ÖVP Finance Councillor Ludwig Schleritzko - who is also responsible for the provincial health agency - sent a written "rebuttal". It states: "We have started the process of drawing up a health pact for Lower Austria with the greatest responsibility for the best possible healthcare for the people of Lower Austria."

Now is not the time to discuss any papers. Now is the time for the brightest minds in our country to work together with the common goal of improving the healthcare system; there has never been and never will be any talk of cutting costs

Ludwig Schleritzko, für die Kliniken zuständiger ÖVP-Landesrat in Niederösterreich

SPÖ was involved in the plans
Schleritzko deeply condemns the fact that the SPÖ is now spreading "uncertainty and resentment among the population". He even goes so far as to say: "State Health Councillor Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig was involved in all rounds of talks and also in the preparation of the process - she stands behind the experts' deliberations. Shirking responsibility now is not only cowardly, but also shows that the SPÖ is absolutely not prepared to take responsibility." One thing is clear: "You don't play with the health of our fellow countrymen, let the experts do their work." However, the responsible provincial councillor did not object to the planned closure of five hospital sites.