Thicket of responsibilities

Hospital closures: Who is (not) responsible

The hospital landscape in Lower Austria will soon be cut not with a scalpel, but with a broadsword.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com, krone.at-Grafik)

It's the number one topic of conversation in Lower Austria: the "Krone" newspaper has uncovered secret hospital closure plans. While the SPÖ is calling for the state health agency to be broken up, the opposition in St. Pölten is also having a go at the black-blue government - but who is actually responsible for the misery?

A look at the online comments clearly shows that our readers are particularly concerned with the question of who is actually responsible for the hospital savings plans. The SPÖ, which is prominently represented in the provincial government by Health Minister Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig, is being held responsible. However, she is responsible for the ambulance service and doctors in private practice and has nothing to do with the state's own hospitals.

The black-blue austerity plans primarily affect the districts north of the Danube. It is unacceptable that a heart attack patient in the Waldviertel will in future find the nearest clinic in the Czech Republic!

Sven Hergovich, Vorsitzender der SPÖ Niederösterreich

As Chairman of the Health and Social Fund, FPÖ Provincial Councillor Christoph Luisser sits at the financial source. However, beyond the legal affairs of the municipal doctors, he can't have much of a say either.

A merger of hospital locations is only conceivable if healthcare close to home is guaranteed. In general, the administration of hospitals should be completely reorganized.

Edith Kollermann, NÖ Gesundheitssprecherin der Neos

What about the ÖVP? Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister is responsible for the state's nursing and care centers, which fall under the agendas of the health agency - but nothing more. That leaves Ludwig Schleritzko. According to the current rules of procedure, he is also responsible for "matters relating to hospitals, including sanitary supervision" - and the provincial health agency.

What is needed now is the preservation of the locations and reliable, transparent healthcare provision in Lower Austria. The planned closures are the result of mismanagement by the LGA.

Silvia Moser, Gesundheitssprecherin der Grünen NÖ

However, inquiries in this regard are often met with nirvana with the reference that the LGA is an independent limited company. In the "Krone" newspaper on Thursday, he said: "It's not time to discuss any papers. Let's let the experts work."