Hospital in Kelheim: Administration Absent, Surgical Procedures Suspended, Leaving Many Unanswered Inquiries
Caritas Hospital Kelheim Closes Operating Area Unexpectedly; Reasons Unclear
Two days after the departure of Sabine Hehn, the former business manager at Caritas Hospital St. Lukas Kelheim, the hospital's operating area suddenly closed due to "urgent renovation work." It remains unclear why such renovations are necessary, what the costs will be, or what the future holds for the hospital amid questionable consultants from Oberender AG.
Caritas and the district of Kelheim's financing relationship is questionable, as a consulting firm benefits while the district funds the hospital and Caritas provides the services. Last Wednesday, it was revealed that Hehn is no longer responsible for the management of the hospital, effectively without notice, with a successor yet to be appointed.
The closure of the operating area came unexpectedly and at short notice, canceling planned operations for the next four weeks. The hospital's inpatient care will reportedly continue, but the financial implications for the hospital's ongoing losses are unclear.
The Kelheim district councilors on the hospital's supervisory board were kept in the dark about these changes, learning of them only during a hastily convened meeting on Monday afternoon. Apparently, no one knew in advance that Hehn was leaving or that there were deficits in the operating area and sterile supply.
In February, Hehn assured the Mittelbayerische Zeitung that the operating area "had no restrictions in its operational capability." Thisassertion has proven short-lived, as the operating area is now closed, and Hehn is no longer with the hospital.
The need for renovations had long been known, with plans for a comprehensive renovation dating back to 2008. The approximately 40-year-old department was to have been renovated, with a reported investment of 40 million euros. However, it is unclear whether this renovation project will proceed or how it will be funded.
When Caritas took over the hospital in 2022, a complete concept was presented, which included the renovation of the operating area. Yet, the department is now closed, removing the need for the modular operating building originally intended to serve as a replacement. Little is known about the circumstances surrounding this change in plans.
In addition to the mysterious departure of Hehn and the sudden closure of the operating area, the hospital has also failed to deliver on promised support areas, such as urology and geriatrics, as part of the strategic partnership with Caritas. The Oberender AG and their consultants continue to be under scrutiny due to ongoing problems at various clinics, including Ingelheim hospital, where similar issues have been reported.
In the absence of comprehensive information and the need for further investigations, it remains unclear what exactly transpired at Caritas Hospital Kelheim that led to Hehn's departure and the closure of the operating area. The financial implications of these events and the future direction of the hospital are still unknown.
- The abrupt closure of Caritas Hospital Kelheim's operating area, amid questionable financial dealings and the departure of Sabine Hehn, has raised concerns about the future of health-and-wellness services in the area.
- The latest medical-conditions report from Caritas Hospital Kelheim suggests that the closure may impact the hospital's ability to provide necessary services, with financial details still uncertain.
- In light of the unexpected hospital closure, the general-news media is scrutinizing the role of consultants from Oberender AG in finance and politics, particularly since similar issues have been reported at other clinics.
