Heerlen municipality responds to media reports about Zuyderland
Health Minister Fleur Agema was in Heerlen today to talk with the boards of Zuyderland and health insurer CZ. The Lower House had asked her to ensure that the birth center, intensive care and emergency room would remain in Heerlen. The minister today made her "ultimate attempt" to achieve this. It was discussed that the drawings of the new building in Heerlen will take into account a possible different staffing situation. The possibility of a maternity hotel in Heerlen is also being investigated, and whether transportation from Heerlen can be arranged for people on a tight budget.
Mayor Wever of Heerlen: "Formally, up to this point, we have not been informed in any way about this morning's conversation. A remarkable course of events to say the least, if not inappropriate. Everything I know about the conversation with Agema I have read in the media, my reaction is therefore a reflection on what can be read there."
Wever continues: "Minister Agema says she will 'do everything possible' to make the South Limburg region attractive to people. Let me first say that it is always good when there is investment in the region. At the same time, it remains crucial for a region of 300,000 inhabitants that the ICU, SEH and birth center be preserved. I simply cannot - even after today - bake anything else out of that."
Flexible building plan
Agema wants to invest in the region so that people settle here and personnel problems are solved. Hence the flexible building plan. Wever about this: "Beautiful words, but now make it concrete! We have always made the offer to work together on this. Accept that offer of a hand for once Zuyderland and really engage with us so that together we can solve the staff shortage!"
Councilwoman Arlette Vrusch: "In addition, we also expect investments from the State. For example, can the State change the number of medical students allowed to start each year so that we have more (emergency room) doctors in the future? And can we, together with hospitals, broaden and innovate healthcare training programs, so that our outstretched hand with local educational institutions will be followed up in concrete terms? All in all, there are still plenty of reasons to continue taking action. Hence, next week on Friday, October 18, we and the Hospital Alliance will demonstrate at the headquarters of health insurer CZ in Tilburg."