Mobile nursing service cares for Salzburg’s 1,000th premature baby
Tuesday 1st September 2026 on 17:45 in
Austria
Salzburg’s Mobile Children’s Nursing Service has cared for its 1,000th premature baby, ORF’s Salzburg service reported. The service allows premature babies to leave hospital earlier in some cases, with paediatric nurses visiting families at home during the first weeks.
Andreas, who is only a few weeks old, is the 1,000th premature baby supported by MOKI Salzburg. He was born on 7 August, about six weeks before his expected due date. His mother, Altantsetseg Saranchimeg, was able to leave hospital with him after 10 days.
“I have two other children who need their mother, so I wanted to get home as quickly as possible,” she said.
At home, Andreas is regularly visited by a paediatric nurse. Tina Trautschold from MOKI visits the family twice a week at first, checking the baby’s development and weight and answering the parents’ questions.
Support after leaving hospital
The transition home can be particularly challenging for parents after a lengthy stay in a neonatal unit, Trautschold said. The service also supports babies who are fed through a stomach tube while they gradually learn to drink independently.
Andreas was initially fed through such a tube, which caused additional concern for his parents. He eventually pulled it out himself and began drinking enough by mouth.
Number of premature babies doubles
MOKI’s mobile aftercare service has operated across Salzburg since 2019. That year, it cared for 83 premature babies. The number rose to 163 last year, according to Maria Haderer of MOKI Salzburg.
The service has also expanded. Premature babies cared for on the maternity ward can now be taken over directly by MOKI and no longer need to be transferred to a parent-and-child ward.
The Salzburg Health Fund finances the service with about 200,000 euros a year. Home visits are free for families.
Günter Lutzenberger of the Salzburg Health Fund said the service supports parents and eases pressure on hospitals. When babies can continue receiving care at home, neonatal and paediatric units also benefit, he said.