The possible "dissolution" of the Wolfratshausen district clinic in the middle of the corona pandemic is causing waves.
Resistance is growing across party lines.
Wolfratshausen - The district clinic is to be converted into an "intersectoral health campus" and will concentrate on outpatient treatments. That is, in a nutshell, the proposal of Vicondo Healthcare GmbH (we reported). The Berlin management consultancy was commissioned by the district committee to develop a concept for comprehensive health care in the district. The expertise available to our newspaper is making waves. Resistance is forming in Wolfratshausen.
The local chairwoman of the Wolfratshauser CSU, Claudia Drexl-Weile, noted with horror that the district clinic was threatened with “dissolution”. "We will do everything to maintain the district clinic," announces the CSU boss - she does not rule out a referendum. Drexl-Weile has already got in touch with local CSU associations - including Geretsried, Egling, Dietramszell and Icking. She has already received her first expressions of solidarity. "But that is not a matter for the CSU," she emphasizes. City councils, town councilors, town hall chiefs and citizens now have to fight together for “that the district clinic is retained in its previous form of operation”. Drexl-Weile cannot present the "perfect solution proposal". But for them one thing is certain: “Health has priority over economy.The corona pandemic showed us that. "
Ex-District Councilor Gerhard Hasreiter makes a proposal
Gerhard Hasreiter, a CSU politician from Geretsried, was a district councilor for 30 years, sat on the supervisory board of the district clinic for many years and has been directing the fortunes of the “Friends of the Wolfratshausen district clinic” for 18 years.
The proposal by Vicondo GmbH is “unbelievable”, Hasreiter told our newspaper.
The district clinic is "well positioned" and has an excellent team of doctors.
Giving up all of this more or less in favor of the private Asklepios city clinic in Bad Tölz is not an option for Geretsrieder.
The Berlin management consultants have come to the conclusion that the district clinic will continue to be in the red, as in previous years. In the worst case, Vicondo expects a deficit of 6.5 million euros in 2025 - in the “base scenario” a loss of almost five million euros. Hasreiter knows other, significantly lower forecasts, but knows that municipal clinics are often subsidized companies. “That applies to 50 percent of the hospitals in Bavaria.” And yet the providers, that is, districts or cities, stuck to the clinics. "To them, the general interest is obviously worth the money," said Geretsrieder. The proposal of the ex-district council: "A continuation of the district clinic until 2025, then we'll see." Because in view of the corona pandemic, all economic predictions are just reading coffee grounds.Of course, the clinic has to do its homework in terms of profitability. "But it is on the right track," emphasizes the chairman of the Association of Clinic Friends.
Health is not a good that financial investors can play with. "
Justyna Czajka and Dr.
Hans Schmidt, spokesman for the Wolfratshauser local association Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen
The result of the internal report that is available to our newspaper has also called the Wolfratshauser Greens onto the scene. "Of course, all potentials to improve the financial situation of the district clinic should be raised," explain the spokesman for the local association, Justyna Czajka and Dr. Hans Schmidt, in a press release - "but on the condition that it remains in public hands and that acute care and emergency medical care for the population in the northern district is secured." Clinic would have fought. Vain. "Now there are strong efforts in the district to privatize the district clinic" because it is not "profitable", "because it is dependent on subsidies from the public purse". But:"Health is and will remain a public good that does not belong in the hands of private financial investors who want to generate profits," said the two Greens.
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Czajka and Schmidt cite the Hamburg Asklepios Group as a bad example: “The privatized Asklepios Clinic in Tölz has sold obstetrics because it has not made any profits. In 2017, she closed the geriatric specialist clinic in Lenggries overnight, more than 100 employees were affected. ”Now, in Loisachstadt,“ public services are to be sacrificed to cost optimization ”. The Greens spokesman ask themselves what the client, the district, has expected from the expertise of the management consultancy Vicondo Healthcare GmbH? "But only arguments to the public that the deficit of the district clinic leaves no other choice than different variants of privatization or the drastic reduction in health care in the northern district."
The Greens call on "all political forces in the district to reverse the trend towards privatization of health care for the population." Health is not a good "that financial investors are allowed to play with".
Mayor invites deputies to talk
As reported, the chairman of the supervisory board of the district clinic, District Administrator Josef Niedermaier, wants to explain the Vicondo study and the Berliners' proposals for action this Wednesday in a press conference in the District Office in Bad Tölz. He does not want to anticipate this date, said Mayor Klaus Heilinglechner on Tuesday when our newspaper asked. But he announces a prompt statement. On Wednesday evening Heilinglechner has invited his deputies Günther Eibl and Annette Heinloth as well as the spokesmen for the city council groups to a consultation. The Wolfratshausen town hall chief knows the report in detail. There is only so much to be elicited from him: The district clinic “is a very important facility”, the around 400 employees “do an excellent job”. (cce)
