Protest Against Closure of Emergency Doctor Stations in Lower Austria

The reduction to 21 emergency doctor bases in Lower Austria, presented on Wednesday, is meeting with resistance. Representatives from Klosterneuburg (Tulln district), where one of the eleven affected locations is situated, are demanding in an open letter to the state government, according to a press release on Thursday, the continued assurance of "seamless emergency care" in the city. There is also resistance to the closure plans in other regions.

Resistance Against Planned Reduction of Emergency Doctor Bases

"Due to the elimination of the previous local emergency doctor system while simultaneously reducing services at the outpatient clinic in the Klosterneuburg state hospital," representatives from the Red Cross, politics, medical profession, and fire department see "urgent need for action in the expansion plans" for the base in the city, the town hall reported. Emergency care must continue to be ensured "through at least one additional RTW-C vehicle, through an appropriate upgrade of the Klosterneuburg state hospital, or through other local solutions" - such as an Acute Community Nurse location -, it was emphasized. There is no shortage of emergency doctors in the city, and factors such as topography must also be considered. He shares the concerns that the planned changes could lead to deficits in emergency care, said Mayor Christoph Kaufmann (ÖVP). Therefore, they will "vehemently advocate for continued seamless emergency care."

Criticism from Several Communities

From April 2027, eleven of the current 32 emergency doctor locations in the state are to be eliminated. The locations in Aspang (Neunkirchen district), Groß-Enzersdorf (Gänserndorf district), Groß Gerungs (Zwettl district), Hainburg (Bruck an der Leitha district), Klosterneuburg (Tulln district), Pöggstall (Melk district), Purkersdorf (St. Pölten district), Raabs (Waidhofen an der Thaya district), Retz (Hollabrunn district), Waidhofen an der Ybbs, and Ybbs (Melk district) will be restructured. Emergency rescues operated by paramedics are to be active here. Additionally, a vehicle will be stationed at the three helicopter bases in Ybbsitz (Amstetten district), Wiener Neustadt, and Gneixendorf in Krems. In several affected communities, there were already signature campaigns, demonstrations, or open letters with criticism of the planned changes prior to the announcement.

The restructuring as part of the "Health Plan 2040+" was justified by State Councilor Eva Prischl (SPÖ) during the presentation, together with State Councilors Ludwig Schleritzko (ÖVP) and Martin Antauer (FPÖ), among others, due to staff shortages caused by retirements and fewer new emergency doctors. The Red Cross Lower Austria sees the population's care as secured in the future as well. The Greens warned on Wednesday against "hasty decisions." The "Health Plan 2040+" was passed in the state parliament in the spring and also includes the merging of hospitals.

(APA/Red)

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