Mayor of Wolfratshausen and Geretsried: "Receive the district clinic"

In the discussion about the future of the district clinic, the mayors in the middle center speak up: They speak out clearly in favor of maintaining the district clinic in its previous form and announce a resolution. 

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen

- In order to maintain inpatient care in Wolfratshausen and to compete with other clinics, District Administrator Josef Niedermaier (Free Voters) wants to look for a "strategic cooperation partner". He explained that on Wednesday in a press conference (we reported). The district council is to discuss this on May 20.

The mayors in the middle center apparently don't want to leave anything to chance in the discussion about the future of the district clinic. Both are committed to preserving it. "The structure of our district requires two clinic locations," writes Wolfratshausen's town hall chief Klaus Heilinglechner (Wolfratshausen Citizens' Association / BVW) in a press release. He hopes that representatives from the south will also show solidarity with the northern district - and not just rely on a one-off investigation by an auditing company. "As Wolfratshauser, we have to demand a sustainable solution and stand behind it," said Heilinglechner. To this end, he wants to act across factions and intermunicipal. The Wolfratshausen city council will pass a resolution to this effect - as will Geretsrieder.According to information from our newspaper, similar efforts are being made in the community of Icking.

Mayor Müller demands: Do not leave the fate of the district clinic to an open tender

"The district clinic is not an exclusive topic for the city of Wolfratshausen, it affects everyone in the north of our district and even beyond its borders," emphasizes Michael Müller (CSU), mayor of the largest city in the district.

Every single one of the approximately 60,000 people living in the catchment area must be able to get high quality and prompt medical help in the worst-case scenario.

Müller appeals on behalf of the citizens and the city council to the district administrator and district council: "Keep the district clinic in its current form and with all services that are partly (survival) essential." The fate of the district clinic should not be left to an open-ended tender.

In his statement, Müller calls the cooperation with the Starnberg Clinic in the field of obstetrics a model for success. It shows "a way for the future of our district clinic in other medical areas". For Gerhard Hasreiter, ex-district councilor and long-time member of the clinic's supervisory board and chairman of the “Friends of the District Clinic”, the Starnberg Clinic would also be the first point of contact. If a cooperation partner was needed - as is the aim of District Administrator Niedermaier, it should be another municipal hospital operator, Hasreiter told our newspaper. For Heilinglechner, on the other hand, the cooperation of a municipal and a privately run house is not ruled out. This also works between the Tölzer Asklepios Clinic and the Agatharied Hospital in the Miesbach district.However, he speaks out clearly against the privatization of the Wolfratshauser Kreisklinik. "Partnerships and collaborations, yes, but no takeovers by holding companies or private investors."

Resistance to possible "dissolution" of the district clinic

District Administrator Niedermaier had said in the press conference that the protest, which is particularly stirring in the north of the district, should not be used as a guideline.

However, the resistance remains unaffected.

Especially the Wolfratshauser CSU with local chairman Claudia Drexl-Weile at the top is mobilizing against the “horror scenarios” described by the Berlin consulting firm Vicondo Healthcare GmbH.

Drexl-Weile describes Niedermaier's statements as "Throwing smoke candles: The conversion of the district clinic into a health center is and will remain a solution, you may call it what you want".

BVW also takes a position: "The district clinic in Wolfratshausen must remain in public hands and continue to guarantee optimal health care for all district citizens," emphasize chairman Thomas Eichberger and his deputy Maximilian Schwarz. Certainly all possibilities would have to be exhausted in order to improve the financial situation of the facility on Moosbauerweg. Measured against the total budget of the district, however, the deficit in relation to the per capita view is manageable. “We absolutely want to afford that.” In this context, CSU boss Drexl-Weile points out: “Who pays the largest share of the district levy? Wolfratshausen and Geretsried! "

According to information from our newspaper, employees of the Wolfratshausen and Starnberg clinics are planning protest rallies to defend themselves against a possible conversion or sale.

The local politicians unanimously praised the staff and the level of the district clinic in their statements.

sw / ccs