Vorarlberg hospitals spend 27 million euros more on staff

Vorarlberg’s state hospitals spent about 27 million euros more on staff in 2025, while the hospital operating company recorded a loss of 68.2 million euros despite higher revenue, ORF reported, citing the company’s annual report presented on Monday.

Personnel costs rose by almost 7% to 421.3 million euros. The number of employees increased by 1.5% to 5,042, up 75 from the previous year. Monthly base salaries rose by 100 to 200 euros at the start of 2025, adding to costs for existing staff as well as new hires.

The employee total includes part-time staff and employees on leave, so it does not show how many full-time positions were filled. The company’s press release did not provide that figure.

The five state hospitals treated more patients and carried out more procedures. They performed about 46,700 operations, around 1,400 more than in 2024. Inpatient admissions rose 1.4% to nearly 80,000, while outpatient visits remained almost unchanged at about 461,000.

Revenue increased to 653.5 million euros, but the annual loss widened from 66.8 million euros in 2024 to 68.2 million euros. The company spent about 739 million euros on operations and investment, around 50 million more than a year earlier. More than half of that increase was for personnel.

Spending on medication rose nearly 13% to 57.2 million euros, while lower loan interest costs provided some relief. The company invested 59.5 million euros in buildings and equipment. Larger projects included a new adult psychiatric unit at LKH Rankweil and three new operating theatres at LKH Bludenz.

The hospitals handled 2,415 births in 2025, almost 5% fewer than the previous year. The figure excludes Dornbirn city hospital, whose maternity ward is due to move to Bregenz. Across Vorarlberg, 3,594 children were born alive in 2025, the lowest total since annual records began in 1961.