Critical situation: Vinzenz Group warns of bed reductions in orthopedics!

Critical situation: Vinzenz Group warns of bed reductions in orthopedics!

The Vinzenz Group is sounding the alarm: there is a risk of a dramatic reduction in beds in orthopedic care in Vienna. According to information from the group, bed capacity in its clinics could be halved. Such drastic measures could lead to longer waiting times for patients, which would put additional strain on the situation in primary medical care. The background to this warning is a draft for the regional health structure plan, which is currently being assessed. Representatives of the Vinzenz Group, including managing director David Pötz, expressed their lack of understanding about the planned restrictions, which could have a massive impact on supply. The capacity cuts particularly affect the Herz Jesu Hospital and the Speising Orthopedic Hospital, two leading institutions in the field of knee and hip joint replacements.

Around 16,000 operations are carried out in these facilities every year and around 120,000 patients receive treatment there every year. The planned reduction in beds in these institutions envisages a reduction from 240 to 116 in the Speising Orthopedic Hospital and from 90 to 50 in the Herz-Jesu-Hospital. The Vinzenz Group is against these cuts and fears a noticeable deterioration in the quality of care, especially with regard to planned interventions. In order to avert the impending situation, those responsible are hoping for constructive discussions with the city. An appointment with City Councilor for Health Peter Hacker (SPÖ) has already been set for December 3rd.

Growing challenges in healthcare

The situation is alarming not only for the Vinzenz Group but also in the larger context of the healthcare system in Austria. Given demographic changes, it is predicted that demand for orthopedics could increase fourfold by 2040. In a healthcare system that is faced with the challenge of an aging society and medical advances, such cuts could have fatal consequences. Access to medical care must not be jeopardized by structural changes. In view of rising health spending in Austria of around 55.1 billion euros (2023), people expect stable, high-quality medical care, which they are entitled to.

Another point that goes hand in hand with the impending reduction in bed capacity is the optimized efficiency improvements that have already been achieved. The average length of stay after hip or knee operations is only three to four days. This shows that the facilities are quite efficient, even without a further reduction in capacity. If you look at the general trends in healthcare under d statista.com it becomes clear that access to health care is becoming increasingly important for all segments of the population and that the health system must be continuously adapted to people's needs. Finally, it remains to be hoped that the planned discussions with the city will lead to an agreement that does not further aggravate the situation of patients in Vienna.