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Pediatricians in Hesse: Shocking shortages threaten care!
In the Rheingau-Taunus district, parents are facing challenges with pediatric care while the MVZ in Frankfurt closes.
Pediatricians in Hesse: Shocking shortages threaten care!
A health policy crisis is looming in Frankfurt: a medical care center (MVZ) will close its pediatrics department at the end of November. This has already caused considerable concern among parents searching for an available pediatrician in the city. The situation is getting worse because the pediatric on-call service at the university hospital has no longer been available since October. Parents complain that they are having difficulty finding pediatric practices that are accepting new patients.
In an interview, Ralf Moebus, the regional chairman of the professional association of pediatricians and adolescent doctors in Hesse, stated that although there are many pediatricians in private practice in the region, the situation is still tense. In Frankfurt, Medicover maintains 30 MVZs, and the MVZ for pediatrics in question previously cared for 4,000 children. But all four doctors resigned and no successors could be found. Medicover emphasizes that the closure is not for financial reasons, but rather that the lack of staff is an urgent problem.
Staff shortages and challenges
According to Ralf Moebus and Jürgen Graf, the medical director of the Frankfurt University Hospital, criticism of the underfunding of pediatrics is becoming increasingly louder. The on-call service for children, which now only has a centralized contact point at the Höchst Hospital, is facing considerable challenges. Parents who need urgent help are often forced to go to the emergency room, which is usually much more expensive than a visit to the pediatrician's office.
The Hesse Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians states that there are 650 pediatricians in 300 practices in the region, with the care mandate being 460 doctors. There are currently only eight pediatric doctor's offices available in Hesse. Although the number of practicing pediatricians has increased over the last ten years, the shortage still feels like a major problem. Moebus recommends that parents contact the on-call number 116117 when making an appointment.
Parents' worries
For many parents in Frankfurt, concern for their sick children remains serious. They look for immediate help, even for harmless illnesses. This “demanding attitude” of parents is perceived by experts as both challenging and understandable. With the loss of local medical practices, it is becoming increasingly difficult for families to find adequate medical care for their children. Experience shows that video consultations are offered as a temporary solution that should be expanded throughout Hesse. But this only helps to a limited extent, as personal support is often essential.
The situation in Frankfurt raises the question: Where should the sick child go? The need for action is clear, and parents, medical professionals and healthcare administrators must urgently pull together to ensure solid care for the youngest patients. This problem is not just local, but rather a societal issue that cannot be ignored in other regions. For many, we can only hope that quick solutions can be found and that health care for children does not remain in crisis.