Vorarlberg plans to move Dornbirn maternity and paediatric units to Bregenz by 2030

Dornbirn’s maternity and paediatric departments are due to move to Bregenz in 2029 or, at the latest, 2030, under a political target date cited by Bregenz chief physician Christian Huemer. The departments’ leaders want to use the move to introduce a model that allows mothers and sick newborns to receive care together, ORF Vorarlberg reported.

At present, a mother recovering from a caesarean section and a baby receiving treatment in a neonatal unit may be cared for on separate wards for hours or even days, said Michael Rohde, who heads maternity care in Dornbirn and Bregenz. Under the proposed model, mothers could stay with their babies even when they need intensive care. Fathers would also be able to remain with them.

The approach is based on an international care model that involves parents directly in treatment. With guidance from staff, parents can hold their baby, provide skin-to-skin contact and take on some aspects of care alongside medical treatment. Rohde said this contact can calm babies and help them maintain their body temperature.

Edda Haberlandt, a senior paediatrician in Dornbirn, said early contact can reduce pain and stress for sick and premature babies and support breastfeeding and feeding. Its benefits may also extend into later development.

The model would require maternity and paediatric staff to coordinate care, including joint discussions and ward rounds. Decisions about mother and baby would be made together, Haberlandt said. Rohde said the teams needed time to prepare for new procedures and that department leaders would need to involve staff and build a shared understanding.

Rooms would need to accommodate parents as well as the equipment required for neonatal intensive care. The joint accommodation would be optional, Huemer said. He said planners appeared willing to provide funding, but gave no specific amount. He described the 2029 or 2030 target as an ambitious timeline, with discussions on bringing the teams together under way.

The state government has reaffirmed the decision to move the services to Bregenz despite protests and 17,605 signatures collected through a public petition. It has cited specialised teams, patient safety and the long-term security of care as reasons for consolidating the services.