The health pact developed by experts will significantly change the hospital structure in Lower Austria. The Landesklinikum Weinviertel Süd-West will combine the hospitals in Hollabrunn, Korneuburg, and Stockerau (district of Korneuburg), while several hospitals will become specialized clinics. The number of emergency medical sites will drop from 32 to 21. The concept, which was presented on Monday, is expected to be approved by the provincial government and parliament by the end of this week.
The project, presented at the Lower Austrian provincial government office in St. Pölten, is based on months of discussions under the working title “Health Pact 2040+”. This vision includes two central clinics in the state capital and Wiener Neustadt, which will offer the highest specialization levels. Regional hospitals will focus on expanded initial and acute care, as well as specialized services. Locations like Zwettl, Horn (both Waldviertel), Amstetten (Mostviertel), Krems, Tulln (central region), Baden, Mödling (Thermenregion), and Mistelbach (Weinviertel) are particularly suited for this.
The hospital structure in the Weinviertel region will see many changes, with the Landesklinikum Weinviertel Süd-West consolidating hospitals in Hollabrunn, Korneuburg, and Stockerau to create a “modern medical flagship” for the region. A location commission will determine the best location, with the new facility expected to be positioned along the Hollabrunn-Stockerau-Korneuburg axis. The existing hospitals will collaborate more closely until the new facility is realized, which is projected to take 12 to 15 years. Stockerau and Korneuburg will eventually stop functioning as acute care hospitals, and Hollabrunn will be converted into a specialist center.
A new health clinic with primary care and specialist services will be built in Gmünd, with an investment of up to 120 million euros, 30 million of which will be invested in the first phase by 2027. Other planned changes include expanding centers for geriatric medicine and increasing surgical capacities. The number of emergency medical sites will be reduced to 21, with 15 linked to hospitals and six separate bases. The First Responder system will also be expanded.
The provincial government is expected to approve the pact in its meeting on Tuesday, and the topic will be discussed in parliament on Thursday. The Health Pact 2040+ was developed by around 50 experts and aims to improve the healthcare system’s infrastructure and services, addressing demographic changes and staff shortages.
