Dangerous midwife deficiency clinics sound the alarm
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Already for years is warned against the increasing lack of midwives in Germany. In some regions, this already threatens the medical care of pregnant women. Many clinics can no longer find obstetricians.
Lack of midwives jeopardizes medical care
For years, experts warn of an increasing midwife deficiency. In some regions, this already threatens the medical care of pregnant women. The hospitals in Bavaria are increasingly struggling with the lack of midwives and the rising number of births. The hospital in Memmingen in Swabia has now sounded the alarm: "The doctors, nurses and midwives of the gynecological clinic at the Klinikum Memmingen are working on the limit," it says in a statement.
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Rising birth rates
Chief physician Felix Flock said: "We expect almost 2,000 births this year, compared to 1,600 the year before." The hospital was "in urgent need of further midwives". According to the Bavarian Hospital Association (BKG), there are such problems nationwide, as there is a shortage of midwives almost everywhere. In a message from the news agency dpa BKG spokesman Eduard Fuchshuber said: "There are many clinics that would love to hire midwives."
Almost every month a delivery room closes
The problems threaten the regional supply of birthplaces. "When a child is born, it does not depend on the distance to the next delivery room. The expectant parents must reach a place where they receive midwife help in a reasonable amount of time, "wrote the German Midwives Association (DHV) on its website.
According to the experts, in 1991 there were 1,186 clinics where births were possible. In 2014 there were only 725 clinics with obstetrics. "Since then, almost every month a delivery room closes doors completely or temporarily," says the DHV.
Closures elsewhere provide more needs
Also in Bavaria there were closures. For example, midwifery in the Swabian town of Illertissen was permanently closed, with the result that expectant mothers from this region sometimes moved to Memmingen and provided additional needs there.
At the same time, there are more and more births. According to a statement from the Bavarian State Office for Statistics, in 2015 there were as many babies in the Free State as there had been for 15 years. More than 118,200 children saw the light of day there.
Disputes over liability insurance for freelance midwives
One factor that plays a significant role in midwifery shortages is the lengthy dispute over liability insurance for freelance midwives. According to the DHV, premiums have increased more than tenfold since 2002.
Only last year, the liability premiums for midwives had risen again. It is becoming increasingly difficult for expectant mothers to find the right midwife. (Ad)