Crisis alert: Emergency service closure endangers 160,000 citizens in the south!

Crisis alert: Emergency service closure endangers 160,000 citizens in the south!

In the last few days there has been a simmering discussion about the healthcare system, especially in the southern district of Mettmann. District Administrator Hendele is dissatisfied with the North Rhine Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, which, in his opinion, ignores the changing structures in hospital care. A new shot across the bow is the closure of the emergency service practice, which is now affecting medical care for around 160,000 citizens in cities such as Monheim, Langenfeld and Hilden. Many of those affected find themselves unable to travel to Mettmann, especially not by public transport, which is anything but positive for medical care. Lokal Anzeiger Erkrath reports that…

The closure not only represents an immediate challenge for the residents, but also leads to an additional burden on the emergency services, which are already under heavy strain due to the centralization of the emergency room at the GFO-Klinikum Mettmann-Süd. The extended travel times could further strain the efficiency of the rescue service, which is why an expansion of the availability of the service must be examined.

With emergency law against the challenges

But why has emergency care in Germany come under so much pressure? In October 2024, the emergency law was passed in the first round by the Bundestag. The debate about emergency structures and how best to help insured people who need treatment has been going on in politics for years. The VDEK makes it clear that… Proposals for reform were already made in 2016, which are now being implemented in the current draft law.

A key point is the so-called Integrated Emergency Centers (INZ), which are intended to bring together the emergency rooms and the on-call practices. At these new contact points there will be a “common counter” where patients can receive a simple and quick initial assessment of their symptoms when they are first admitted. In addition, digital advance contacts should enable a “fast lane” for faster treatment, which could be a real relief for many people.

Finally a solution to long waiting times?

The problems caused by minor illnesses in emergency rooms cannot be dismissed. You often hear about inefficient operations in the emergency services because in many cases there is no acute medical need. There is a need for unambiguous quality standards, uniform care pathways and, above all, cost transparency in order to avoid both excess and incorrect care and to better manage the emergency services' resources.

In North Rhine-Westphalia there are currently 53 control centers for 17 million inhabitants - as a reminder: Saxony only manages with 5 control centers for 4 million people. It is urgently necessary for the federal and state governments to clarify their financial responsibilities and ensure the long-term financing of the emergency services. This is the only way to clearly structure access routes so that real emergencies can be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

The need for reform in the area of ​​emergency care is therefore clear. Whether through legal changes or better coordination of the various players in the healthcare system - time is running out to finally improve care for citizens.