Fate of Varel's St. Johannes Hospital: Is it threatened with closure?

Fate of Varel's St. Johannes Hospital: Is it threatened with closure?

A shadow lies over the future of obstetric care in the Friesland district. At the St. Johannes Hospital in Varel, one of the region's largest employers, Lower Saxony's Health Minister Dr. Andreas Philippi (SPD) questioned the relevance of supply. Loud NWZonline The clinic is denied operating costs from the state, which further complicates the situation.

In a recent statement, Philippi confirmed the WMC report, which states that St. Johannes Hospital is not relevant to obstetric care. The accessibility of the Varel location in particular is a key point that, according to the minister, should not be ignored. The recommendation to the Friesland district to continue operating the clinic for the time being offers a small glimmer of hope. Nevertheless, Philippi emphasizes: “Births in Varel cannot simply be distributed to other locations in Lower Saxony.”

The challenge of healthcare

District Administrator Sven Ambrosy gratefully turned to the minister and expressed the urgency of a solution for health care. This is supported by two reports, one from PwC and one from WMC. Both reports come to the conclusion that the St. Johannes Hospital in Varel is not only economically unsustainable, but also not relevant to care. Only by building a new central clinic can a suitable alternative be created.

Despite the bleak outlook, St. Johannes Hospital represents an important part of the regional healthcare system. It offers reliable medicine and care at a high level and cooperates closely with local doctors and therapists. With modern medical departments and over 500 employees, around 26,000 inpatients are cared for every year, not only from Friesland but from all over Germany. But the wave of negative reporting could raise concerns among the population. “We have a high level of patient satisfaction,” the hospital assures in its information on your own website.

A look at nursing education

An issue that is currently affecting the entire industry is the shortage of nursing staff. In the long term, this could also affect the St. Johannes Hospital in Varel if countermeasures are not taken in time. Demographic change is already having an impact on the availability of skilled workers. From 2024, the flat rates for the training of nursing staff will be increased in order to motivate more people to train in nursing. These changes are of great relevance for institutions such as the St. Johannes Hospital and can be found on the website Vdek.

In the current situation, it is obvious that both the political and health infrastructure of the Friesland district are under scrutiny. The decision about the future of the St. Johannes Hospital in Varel will largely depend on the assessment of the district committees. It remains to be hoped that a viable solution will be found to ensure long-term health care in the region.