Residents oppose plan to redirect Preiļi emergency patients

Residents of Preiļi Municipality oppose a planned reform that would change the local hospital’s status next year and send emergency patients to regional hospitals instead, LSM reported. The Health Ministry says the changes are based on low patient numbers and high costs, while local residents’ councils have asked the ministry to preserve the hospital’s current status.

Preiļi Hospital is a second-level medical institution serving about 30,000 people. Under the reform plan, it would retain its therapy department, day hospital and outpatient services, while the main changes would affect its emergency department.

In more serious cases, patients could be taken to hospitals in Daugavpils, Rēzekne or Jēkabpils, which are about an hour away. People would still be able to come to Preiļi’s emergency department on their own, but only those whose diagnoses match the hospital’s therapy profile would be admitted for inpatient treatment.

Preiļi Hospital admitted 1,209 patients last year, including 329 brought in by the emergency medical service. The emergency department treated 62 people at night, most of whom had suffered injuries.

“The reform is based on an analysis of statistical data and is aimed at improving the healthcare sector as a whole and using funding more efficiently. Staff dismissals related to the reform are not planned,” SIA Preiļu slimnīca said in a written response.

Sanita Janka, director of the Health Ministry’s Healthcare Department, said medical staff would be available in the emergency department at night, including a doctor, nurses and nursing assistants. She also said radiological examinations, laboratory services and electrocardiograms would be available.

Hospital management has also decided to close the maternity department because of a decline in the number of births and the high costs of operating it.

All 15 residents’ councils in Preiļi Municipality oppose the changes. In a letter to state officials, they cited concerns about reduced access to services, the region’s development and the legality of the reform.