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Werncker Hospital closes: Employees outraged about takeover!
The Werneck market hospital closes; Patient care in Schweinfurt will continue. Staff reacts in horror.
Werncker Hospital closes: Employees outraged about takeover!
An unexpected upheaval is just around the corner: The Werneck Market Hospital will close its doors at the end of the year. The employees were more than just surprised by this news when the information was announced by the Sana management of the St. Josef Hospital shortly before the Pentecost weekend. A statement stated that operations would continue 16 kilometers away at St. Josef Hospital in Schweinfurt. The management is optimistic about the project, but the staff is completely different, who, according to Mainpost, are “horrified and angry”.
The employees in Werneck were informed about the closure at the same time, while the staff council was informed a few days before. A comprehensive plan to integrate personnel and services from Werneck to Schweinfurt does not initially look good. Many employees are concerned about the changes that will accompany the closure. A current status is confirmed by the Josef Foundation, which assures that the future of the St. Josef Hospital is secured and further information will follow.
A look at the hospital landscape
The closure of the market hospital is not an isolated case, but is part of a trend that experts describe as part of a larger wave of hospital mergers and closures. A study by the German Institute for Economic Research suggests that such mergers can often have profound effects on the range of healthcare services offered. In Germany, around 28% of healthcare spending in 2019 went to hospital expenses - a pretty high proportion, which shows how important these facilities are for healthcare, like that [DIW].
Despite the potential efficiency gains through mergers, there are also legitimate concerns: the competition law review by authorities such as the Federal Cartel Office shows that restrictions on competition cannot be ignored. Ultimately, such decisions affect not only the financial aspects but also the quality of healthcare, which is of utmost importance to many people.
Conclusion and outlook
The coming months will show how the services and staff of the Werneck market hospital can be integrated into the St. Josef Hospital and what impact these changes will have on the quality of care in the region. Employee concerns must be taken seriously because there is a lot at stake in healthcare. Stay tuned for more information, especially as the Josef Foundation has promised to keep you updated on developments.