Health section side of Ländli Centre likely to close

It was announced earlier this week that the health section side of the Ländli Centre in Oberägeri may have to be closed next year, with the loss of some 20 jobs.
 
The history of the Ländli Centre goes back over 100 years. It was actually founded as a recuperative holiday centre by the German doctor Minna Popken in 1911 before being taken over by Protestant religious order of nuns in 1925.
 
The centre, enjoying as it does this sun-trap location on the shores of Lake Aegeri, caters for a wide range of guests, such as holiday makers and those seeking rest and recuperation after an illness as well as providing spa and seminar facilities.
 
Last Monday those responsible for running the institution announced that plans were under way to restructure the hotel side of the business, and that this was highly likely to lead to the health centre side being closed from 30 April next year, resulting in the loss of 20 jobs, as mentioned.
 
As Hans-Beat Buol (second photograph), the current operations manager of the Ländli, explained, the health side of the business has only been able to be maintained thanks to internal subsidy. Indeed for many years it was run by the nuns themselves. In recent years an increasing number of external medical staff have had to be brought in, but this is no longer viable financially. “Unlike other clinics and hospitals, we do not get any public funding,” explained Buol. “Not that there is any lack of demand for our health facilities here, on the contrary. It is just that we can no longer cover our expenses. Fortunately, all other aspects of the business are doing well.”
 
Buol, who has been running the Ländli for the past 20 years, explained that a period of consultation would begin and that the final decision would not be taken until January. However, all indications were that the health centre would close. As to those who might lose their job, the manager said he was certain they would soon find other ones, bearing in mind care workers were much sought after these days. However, he realised that losing one’s job was a big thing for anyone. “Naturally the news came as a bit of a shock to them, even though it has been known there have been problems from some years,” he added.
 
The Ländli now plans to expand the hotel section of the business, not least by looking at the potential in accommodating long-term guests and by making use of the space currently taken up by the health centre. However, Buol thought it was too early to release any further details at this stage.