End of obstetrics

Affected midwife gets her anger off her chest

Specialist staff are disappointed by the closure of the maternity ward.(Bild: zVg)

Specialist staff vent their anger at the closure of the maternity ward at the Waidhofen an der Ybbs Regional Hospital. Those affected are "disappointed, angry and incredibly sad".

The state health authority (LGA) has apparently made few friends with the procedure for closing the gynecology and obstetrics department in Waidhofen an der Ybbs - especially among the staff there. "We were invited to an information event in an email and then presented with a fait accompli less than 24 hours later," describes a midwife (name known to the editor).

Speechlessness, anger, sadness
The imminent end of the ward - it will be closed on March 24, as reported - triggers many emotions: Speechlessness, anger, sadness. "The tenor that the closure is about the safety of women and children makes a mockery of our work," say the professionals: "For us midwives, it is and always has been about the safety of the families who have entrusted themselves to us."

In addition, they have always worked with great dedication: "We have put up with vacation closures, worked overtime and shown a lot of initiative." The seamless cooperation with the medical specialists has "always been a given", the midwife says, adding that the threat of danger to mothers and babies cited by the LGA obviously does not exist. On the other hand, she is concerned about the sometimes longer journeys that expectant mothers will have to make to another hospital with a maternity ward in the future.

We are disappointed, angry, hurt and incredibly sad.

Betroffene Hebamme

Frustrated specialist staff
The announced closure feels "like a slap in the face". After all, "in contrast to other clinics in Lower Austria", the number of births in Waidhofen an der Ybbs had recently increased: "Women from the entire Mostviertel region came to Waidhofen an der Ybbs especially to give birth. The evaluation of the patient surveys also spoke in our favor." Conclusion of those affected: "We are disappointed, angry, hurt and incredibly sad."