Instead of waiting until 2027

Patient pays 10,000 euros for surgery herself

Heidrun Kogler from Tennengau urgently needs an intervertebral disc operation. The Salzburg regional hospitals are only offering her an operation date in April 2027.(Bild: Andreas Tröster)

Heidrun Kogler urgently needs an intervertebral disc operation. But she won't get an appointment at the Salzburg regional hospitals until 2027. In desperation, she sought an appointment privately. She is appalled that the state is now cutting back on nursing staff of all things. 

"I couldn't even walk the 50 meters over to my in-laws," says Heidrun Kogler. The pain in her back suddenly came at the beginning of August. The 47-year-old from Sankt Jakob am Thurn in the Tennengau municipality of Puch actually rides her e-bike to work in Salzburg's old town in the summer. But nothing worked at all: "You get up and think to yourself: I can't even sit down. What's the day going to be like?"