Emergency care on Usedom: Doctors are missing, holidaymakers are suffering!

Emergency care on Usedom: Doctors are missing, holidaymakers are suffering!

The challenge of healthcare in rural regions, especially in Usedom, is becoming more and more noticeable. A new analysis shows that specialists in these areas have become rare. The islanders often have to travel long distances to receive health treatment, especially to Greifswald, where the nearest specialized health care providers can be found Baltic Sea newspaper reported.

The situation of emergency veterinary care on the island is particularly worrying. There was no vet on duty on public holidays, which can lead to dramatic situations. One example is a young animal owner who had to drive his sick rabbit to Friedland, where he urgently sought medical help. Dr. Holger Nietz from the State Veterinary Association makes a clear point: The new emergency service structure is urgently needed as the number of self-employed veterinarians in the region is decreasing. A look at the local veterinary practices shows that the nearest vets in Mönchow, Usedom or Dargen are usually far away and only have limited opening hours.

The sad reality of deaths

Another aspect that worries residents is the number of deaths among holidaymakers. Around 17% of the deceased who are cared for at the Kruse funeral home in Ahlbeck are visitors to the island. Undertaker Linda Heiland and her team do valuable work because they take care of the repatriation or burial of the deceased. This sad reality highlights how important it is that high-quality healthcare options are available even while on vacation.

Community projects for the village center

The residents of Liepe show that they stick together in difficult times. Volunteers have begun to renovate the old parish barn to bring new life to the town and create a new village center. The craftsmen should have finished the outer shell of the barn by the end of the year. Such initiatives are essential to maintain the social structure in rural regions.

A new chapter is opening in sport this year. Dawid Nowomiejski, head of defense at HSV Insel Usedom, has established himself as a crowd favorite and actively promotes German-Polish cooperation in handball. In addition, soccer star Toni Kroos will soon be awarded the State Order of Merit at the Greifswalder Volksstadion, with the event limited to 1,000 guests, mainly children from sports clubs.

A fire department hero for the region

While the challenges of healthcare are becoming clear, there is also encouraging news from the fire service world. Tim Nahrstedt from the Kühlungsborn Volunteer Fire Department was elected Fire Department Hero 2025. In an exciting vote, he beat Anne Berner from the Kröslin Volunteer Fire Department and is now looking forward to a big fire department festival in September where the community will come together.

The differences in medical and veterinary care on Usedom are more than just numbers - they directly affect the lives of people and animals in this beautiful region. The efforts of volunteers and engaged citizens are necessary to improve the quality of life and provide rural populations with the health care they need, as well as the Federal Agency for Civic Education holds on.