Jarocin will lose its maternity ward. 16 people will lose their jobs, and pregnant women will be left in the lurch.
As of November 1st, the district hospital in Jarocin is closing its obstetrics and gynecology wards and neonatal unit. Sixteen midwives and nurses will lose their jobs, and pregnant women will have to travel dozens of kilometers to the nearest maternity wards. Starost Mariusz Stolecki attributes the decision to multi-million losses, while the city's mayor warns: "This is the beginning of the hospital's closure."
Jarocin County authorities have decided to close the obstetrics, gynecology, and neonatal wards at the local hospital. This is scheduled to take effect on November 1st. Sixteen midwives and nurses will lose their jobs, and on Thursday they appealed to municipal and county authorities for help. They believe this decision exposes pregnant women to serious risk. Women will be forced to travel to Kalisz, Pleszew, or Ostrów Wielkopolski to give birth, several dozen kilometers away. In emergency situations, this could pose a threat to their health and lives, they warn.
Starost Mariusz Stolecki leaves no doubt. The decision was inevitable. The department was generating losses of around 5 million złoty each year, he says. In the first half of 2025 alone, the department already generated a loss of 2.5 million złoty. Hospital CEO Beata Walczak-Silińska emphasizes that despite attempts to reduce costs, the trend has not been reversed.
Everything was tried: reducing the number of beds, shortening working hours, and reducing staffing levels. However, none of this produced the desired results," he emphasizes.
For comparison: the entire hospital ended last year with a debt of PLN 4 million, which is less than the maternity ward alone had in a year.
The mayor admits that he appealed to staff to reduce costs. Midwives were to be on duty with a smaller team, especially on weekends.
"I said it was better to earn less but have stability. Meanwhile, they all showed up to work, ignoring the recommendations," says Stolecki.
He added that the inspection uncovered irregularities in the accounting of working hours. "One of the midwives reported being on duty on February 31st. I'm not saying all of them did this, but such practices undermine trust," he said.
The hospital's financial situation is also being exacerbated by ongoing legal proceedings concerning medical errors. "In one case, if the verdict becomes final, we will have to pay several million złoty in compensation to the injured patient's family," the district head reports. Furthermore, the hospital's operating costs have risen significantly following the introduction of statutory pay raises for medical staff. "A midwife currently earns between 10,000 and 14,000 złoty gross," the district head reports.
Banks no longer want to cooperate with the facility. The county itself guarantees the loans. "But even the banks are suggesting that we need to seriously consider our next steps. We have other entities to support," adds Stolecki.
The mayor of Jarocin does not hide his concerns.
– What is happening now is the beginning of the liquidation of the entire hospital – he commented in an interview with PAP.
The situation in Jarocin is no exception. According to data from the Greater Poland branch of the National Health Fund, maternity wards have already been suspended in Złotów, Nowy Tomyśl, Rawicz, and, as of July 6th, also in Turek. In recent years, maternity wards have disappeared from the region, including in Czarnków (2020) and Wągrowiec (2023). More than 30 hospitals remain operational throughout Greater Poland.
According to Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, six maternity wards were closed across Poland in 2024. According to local government officials, the situation may only worsen if the regulations regarding the financing of medical staff's salaries are not changed.
politykazdrowotna
