SPD Questions: Is Ingolstadt being overlooked by the Free State in terms of hospital care provision?
In a recent development, council members Dr. Böhm and Witty (SPD) from Ingolstadt, the second-largest city in Upper Bavaria after Munich, have written a parallel letter to Bavarian Health Minister Judith Gerlach. The letter highlights the discrepancy in clinical care between Ingolstadt and comparable cities and requests immediate action to address this issue.
The council members have expressed concern over the current situation, stating that it is unacceptable for the fifth-largest Bavarian city and the second-largest Upper Bavarian municipality after Munich, with a population of approximately 500,000 inhabitants. The range of services provided by the two hospitals in Ingolstadt, a small surgical clinic, a level I care hospital, and a level II care hospital (Klinikum), falls short of comparable cities.
The letter emphasizes the increased risk of inadequate care in Ingolstadt due to the current situation. If the surrounding hospitals cannot guarantee reliable emergency care, the pressure on the Ingolstadt Klinikum increases, leading to capacity and performance limits. This is a significant issue, as many cases now see Ingolstadt residents needing treatment outside of the city.
The nearest university hospital in the Free State of Bavaria is located in Regensburg, 72 kilometers away. Cities like Regensburg, Erlangen, and Würzburg have a significantly better clinical care structure than Ingolstadt. For instance, Regensburg has a level II and III hospital and a university hospital, while Erlangen has a general care level I hospital and a university hospital, and Würzburg has a level I and II hospital and a university hospital.
To address this disparity, the council members have requested a meeting with Minister Gerlach to discuss possible solutions. They suggest that the Bavarian government might consider leveraging technology and infrastructure improvements, such as those seen in projects like the 5G4UH initiative, which aims to enhance healthcare services through advanced 5G infrastructure. This could potentially influence broader healthcare strategies in Bavaria, following the example of innovative projects like the 5G Corridor Munich – Prague, which have facilitated discussions on eHealth advancements.
In light of the current situation, the council members have issued the letter from the Press Office of the SDP City Council Faction. They believe that the state government should take action to improve the service range and performance of hospitals in Ingolstadt in the short and medium term. By doing so, they aim to ensure that residents of Ingolstadt receive the high-quality healthcare services they deserve.
- The council members believe that the shortfall in medical-conditions care in Ingolstadt, a city with roughly half a million inhabitants, necessitates immediate attention from Bavarian Health Minister Judith Gerlach, given its status as the second-largest Upper Bavarian municipality after Munich.
- Science and technology, such as those leveraged in projects like the 5G4UH initiative, could potentially provide solutions for improving health-and-wellness services in Ingolstadt, a city currently falling behind comparable cities in clinical care.
