Future of hospital care: discussion evening in Schweinfurt

Von Kl Redaktion

The famous and valued facility, the St. Josef hospital in downtown Schweinfurt, faces a dramatic change. The closure is planned on December 31, 2024, and this message has put the region into turmoil. There are financial reasons behind this change, which has called the congregation of the Sisters of the Redeemer from Würzburg. This means that around 800 employees have to be looking for new professional perspectives, while 272 beds from hospital care for the city and the district of Schweinfurt will be eliminated.

This drastic change has underlined the need for an intensive debate about future hospital care in the region. The Main Post media group therefore organized a panel discussion on Tuesday, September 17th, in the Stadthalle Schweinfurt to offer this problem a platform. The discussion begins at 8 p.m. and all interested citizens are invited to take part in this free event. However, it is pointed out that the capacity of the town hall is limited.

Who takes part in the discussion?

The invitation to discuss several significant personalities. Among the guests are the Bavarian Minister of Health Judith Gerlach (CSU), the State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health Sabine Dittmar (SPD), Mayor Sebastian Remelé (CSU) and Jürgen Winter, Managing Director of the Leopoldina Hospital in Schweinfurt. The discussion is moderated by Marcel Dinkel, editor at Schweinfurter Tagblatt, and Oliver Schikora, head of the Main-Post Local editorial office in Schweinfurt and Gerolzhofen.

The key point of the discussion will be the important question of how hospital care for the region can be secured sustainably. The role of the city as the bearer of the Leopoldina Hospital is discussed as well as the necessary support, which must be provided by the Free State of Bavaria and the federal government to ensure the best possible care of all patients.

a platform for the citizens

The panel discussion was designed in response to public uncertainty, which was triggered by the decision of the congregation. The dialogue should help to reduce fears and to clearly outline the next steps that need to be taken in the future.

The course of the debate is designed for about an hour and a half and includes both moderated discussion rounds and an open part in which visitors can bring in their questions. A special feature is that the main post will report this event in the form of a live blog on mainpost.de. This ensures that even those who cannot be on site are able to pursue the discussion. A video live stream is also planned.

In addition, a citizens' meeting will be offered on September 26, in the Evangelical parish hall at 7 p.m. This event, announced by Mayor Sebastian Remelé, represents another forum in which the citizens can bring in their worries and opinions.

interested people who would like to ask questions in advance of the debate can send them by email to Redaktion.schweinfurt@mainpost.de or send them in writing to the editorial team of the Schweinfurt Tagblatt, to Oliver Schikora. Questions that cannot be answered during the event will be clarified later.

For the citizens and employees in and around Schweinfurt, the future of hospital care is a central, currently relevant topic that urgently needs to be addressed. The panel discussion on September 17 will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to this process by promoting an open and honest discussion and brings together both decision -makers and the public.