Amsterdam reminds Minister Bruins of available hospital care

"The pace of gradual withdrawal of care has surprised and worried us," said Moorman. Formally, the municipality of Amsterdam has no control over hospital care, but the city feels responsible. The city has therefore set up a crisis team composed of specialized officials.

The Minister's City has yet to receive any response to questions regarding the availability and necessary hospital care in Amsterdam. "We understand that in July 2018, your Ministry had information on the financial situation of the hospitals MC IJsselmeer and MC Slotervaart.I would like to know if this is correct and, in this case, why your department did not inform the municipality about this at that time and that no further action was taken.This extra time had made all the difference for this process to be controlled and conducted. well. "

The municipal council now wants" to know on what care it can count ". Moorman wants the minister to offer "guarantees" to the city. . "I would like to receive from you the promise that sufficient specialist medical care will remain available after the eventual closure of MC Slotervaart."

According to Moorman, legislative changes are also needed to ensure the proper alignment of the Health Insurance Act and the Bankruptcy Act. so that the acute transfer of patients in the event of a hospital fall "no longer occur this way". The municipality must also play a role in this regard, according to the alderman. "Operational risks are far too high in the current situation.It is necessary that a status quo be imposed when a hospital goes bankrupt for the transfer to be done safely."