The Refaja Hospital in Stadskanaal and the Bethesda Hospital in Hoogeveen are set to lose their obstetrics and paediatrics departments.
By Marieke Bos / Translation by Traci White
Closing the departments would mean that women can no longer give birth in either of the hospitals. The Treant healthcare group announced plans on Tuesday to bring their obstetrics and paediatrics departments together at one central location: Scheper hospital in Emmen.
RTV Drenthe reports that Treant says they are cutting back the departments due to the lack of paediatricians in the region. The obstetrics and paediatrics departments in Emmen are currently closed because the paediatricians there collectively went on sick leave late last year. Treant has been unable to find any paediatricians to replace them.
Treant has chosen to relocate the departments at the other two hospitals which they own to Emmen because the Scheper hospital has the most space and best facilities.
If the plans move forward, it will not be possible for women to give birth at the hospitals in Stadskanaal and Hoogeveen. The plans are still pending approval by the works council, the client council and the supervisory board. A definitive decision will be made later this year.
Photo source: Nevit Dilmen/Wikipedia
