in the middle
The situation with medical care on the North Sea island of Amrum is getting worse. There is a lack of almost all disciplines. A possible solution could be a medical care center. But many questions still remain unanswered.
“I have been trying to find a successor for my practice for over two years – unfortunately without success so far,” says Claudia Derichs. Similar to rural areas on the mainland, it is almost impossible for general practitioners in Amrum to fill their vacant family doctor positions.
Her practice is responsible for around 2,000 islanders. In addition, there are more than 10,000 guests during the holiday season.
No specialist practices on the island
Unlike on the neighboring islands of Föhr or Sylt and on the mainland, Amrum does not have any specialist practices. There is also a lack of important diagnostic equipment, such as X-rays or a laboratory. The Amrum residents often have to travel to the mainland for further treatment.
“You often have to take an extra day off for a ten-minute treatment,” says one of Claudia Derichs’ patients during the consultation.
24/7 availability
In an emergency, people are flown to the nearest hospital on the mainland. Amrum does not have a hospital. Claudia Derichs’ practice is therefore also responsible for on-call services around the clock in the event of an emergency. Also on weekends and public holidays.
“Smaller lacerations that are normally treated in the hospital come to us. That’s what we take care of here,” says the doctor. The 58-year-old receives support from an employed doctor. “Sometimes I even have to step in as a veterinarian,” she says.
Time is running out on Amrum
In order to no longer have to shoulder a large part of the medical care on the island alone, Claudia Derichs is campaigning for a medical care center. “Many doctors today no longer want to bear this great responsibility and would rather have time for other things with a reduced number of hours,” says Derichs. This development must also be taken into account on the island.
The family doctor plans to give up her independence next year. “At the age of almost 60, I can no longer be on call every other night. I’m starting to see that as an imposition and I want to get rid of this responsibility, that I’m the only one responsible for it,” she says.
Island communities are working on supply center
The three island communities on Amrum are working together with Claudia Derichs and the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians on a solution for the island. It will be a challenge to find enough living space for the employees, says Christian Stemmer, director of Föhr and Amrum.
In addition, it is currently not clear who will take over the medical care center as a municipal provider on the island and how it will be financed. The communities on Amrum want to answer these questions by the end of May.