Future of medical care in Varel: Central clinic is causing a stir!

Future of medical care in Varel: Central clinic is causing a stir!

The Friesland district council recently decided to build a new central clinic, a move that has sparked both positive and worrying discussions about medical care in the region. The central clinic is being built and operated in collaboration between the Friesland district and the city of Wilhelmshaven. This is a crucial step given concerns about future medical care in Varel, which have recently been reinforced by two reports. Loud NWZonline challenges the financial situation of the Friesland clinics, and in particular the future of the clinic in Varel is in jeopardy.

The analysis shows that all three clinic locations – Varel, Sande and the Wilhelmshaven Clinic – have financial difficulties. This is clearly addressed by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) in one of the reports. PWC recommends abandoning the St. Johannes Hospital in Varel and relocating all services to Sande. This would drastically reduce the Friesland Kliniken's deficit, which is currently around 25 million euros annually and could even rise to 45 million euros if the Varel location were retained. There is great savings potential here that should not be underestimated, according to the analysis kma online.

Urgent need for action

The district council has not ignored this situation and sees the need for a binding hospital concept for the transition period until the central clinic opens. A sustainable model to ensure medical care must urgently be developed. However, until clarification is made, no significant changes will be made to the existing locations NWZonline emphasized.

In the last few days, the CDU parliamentary group submitted an alternative proposal to support the city of Varel in the development of an expanded medical care center (MVZ). This application not only provided for one-off investment aid, but also required that everything be implemented by December 31, 2025. So far, however, this application has not found a majority in the district council, which is mainly because the majority group, consisting of the SPD, Greens and FDP, wants to reconsider the financing of the hospital.

Discussions and planning for the future

District Administrator Sven Ambrosy has already contacted Varel's mayor and other mayors to discuss support for the Varel health location. Another meeting for discussions and planning will be scheduled for early August; Partners from the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, the Medical Association and possible real cooperation partners from the nursing sector should also be included. This is crucial to secure the future of medical care in the region and address the urgency of the situation.

A feasibility study also recommended building a new hospital in a new location that could maximize economic sustainability. This is also supported by the analysis of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Social Affairs, Labor, Health and Equality, which points out in a report the need to make the hospital structure in Lower Saxony fit for the future. Niedersachsen.de emphasizes that a targeted concentration of medical services in high-performance centers would result in a significant improvement in the quality of treatment.

Overall, the health care structures in Friesland are facing considerable challenges, and the decision to build the central clinic and the ongoing discussions show the urgency with which regulations must be made. “There is something going on,” to use the words of the district administrator, because the health of the citizens in Varel and the surrounding area is at stake.