Emergency practice scandal: Ratingen is threatened with undersupply!

Emergency practice scandal: Ratingen is threatened with undersupply!

The planned changes in the emergency service area are causing excitement in the Mettmann district. In the future, only two emergency practices will be available for the entire district: one in Velbert and one in Mettmann. This reduction hits the citizens hard, especially since the emergency practice in Ratingen is to close and the facility planned for the southern district will not be implemented. This situation causes outrage, not only among residents, but also from District Administrator Hendele and the Ratingen SPD, who rate the decisions as unreasonable. The Radio Neanderthal reports that the NRW state parliament will deal with the adjustments. The Ratingen state parliament member Elisabeth Müller-Witt has also submitted a request to the state to clarify future emergency care in Ratingen as well as possible compensation, for example for taxi rides that are necessary to the nearest emergency practice.

The emergency service practice in Velbert, which is located in the Niederberg Clinic, will be the only available contact point in the city. The opening times are as follows: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Wednesday and Friday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on weekends and public holidays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The emergency service practice in Langenfeld also remains in operation. This practice has its doors in the St. Martinus Hospital, Klosterstraße 32, and is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., while on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays it is available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. This shows that despite the closures in Ratingen, supplies in other cities should be maintained.

The pediatric emergency service practice in Velbert also offers support, but it is currently only open at specific times: Wednesday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on weekends and public holidays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. For parents who need quick help in an emergency, it might be advisable to look at the surrounding children's clinics, as the EVK Mettmann does not have its own department for pediatrics. In acute cases, it is recommended to go to the EVK Mettmann emergency room or, in an emergency, to contact the emergency services on 112. The emergency room provides initial care and, if necessary, arranges for a transfer to the nearest specialized clinic.

In summary, the situation for the citizens in the Mettmann district is tense. With only two remaining emergency practices and a large number of critical voices behind them, it will be crucial how the political discussion in the NRW state parliament continues. It remains to be hoped that those responsible will show a sense of responsibility and find solutions that ensure supplies for the population.