Hergovich rejects planned cuts to emergency doctor bases

Lower Austria SPÖ chairman Sven Hergovich has rejected plans to reduce the number of emergency doctor bases in the state, ORF reported after his appearance on the “NÖ heute” summer interview programme.

Healthcare is one of Hergovich’s main political priorities in Lower Austria. He criticised the “Health Plan 2040plus”, under which 11 emergency doctor bases would no longer continue in their current form.

Hergovich said expanding RTW-C emergency ambulances staffed by specially trained paramedics was the right move, but that emergency doctors could not be replaced. Healthcare must not become a budget-saving measure, he said.

The SPÖ agreed to the state’s healthcare pact only on the condition that no healthcare facility would be closed before an equivalent replacement was available, Hergovich said. He argued that this condition had not yet been met in the planned reorganisation of emergency medical services, citing longer travel times for emergency doctors in some regions.

Hergovich ruled out working with FPÖ state chairman Udo Landbauer on healthcare policy. He said he would not cut spending on healthcare with Landbauer, while inviting the ÖVP to invest more in healthcare together with the SPÖ instead of closing bases with the FPÖ.

On migration policy, Hergovich called for support for people in need while also limiting and reducing migration. People who did not follow the rules, disrespected women’s rights or failed to respect democracy would have to leave Austria again, he said.

Hergovich also looked back cautiously on the internal party challenge before the SPÖ state party conference in April. His then deputy, Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig, initially announced a challenge to his leadership before withdrawing it. Hergovich was confirmed as the only candidate with 86 percent of the vote, which he described as clear support for his centrist course.