Latvian Ministry of Health reports that on Thursday, the 3rd of August, minister Līga Meņģelsone and the ministry’s management met with the Healthcare Sector’s Strategic Council, Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments and Latvian Large Cities Association, as well as the management of Balvi and Gulbene hospitals and leaders of respective municipalities.
After listening to arguments from municipalities and hospital specialists. “considering the aspect of regional accessibility, available infrastructure and distance between medical institutions, as well as other social aspects,” currently
the Ministry of Health drops the plan to close childbirth wards in Balvi and Dobele.
Meanwhile, “in order to ensure the preservation of staff qualifications and the safety of mothers and children in hospitals with a comparatively small number of births, solutions will be sought together with industry specialists to ensure the qualification of department personnel within the framework of hospital cooperation areas.”
The role of pressure from municipalities in this decision is omitted from the press-release. It is reported that the meeting was organised “to discuss proposals for the plan to enhance hospitals to help improve the quality of medical services in all Latvian hospitals”.
The Ministry of Health notes that “the hospital enhancement plan” provides for specifically strengthens hospital admissions or emergency departments across the country, and the planned changes are being made in the best interest of patients. Meņģelsone stressed that “currently there are proposals based on the vision of the sector’s specialists. However, there is still room for discussions”.
Also read: Municipality hopes to protect Dobele Hospital; residents asked to help