Geesthacht Hospital insolvent again – future of care in danger!

Geesthacht Hospital insolvent again – future of care in danger!

In the Duchy of Lauenburg district, the insolvency of the Geesthacht hospital is causing worried faces. The application for insolvency was filed at the Schwarzenbek district court on October 28, 2025, and as early as November 3, 2025, local political representatives were looking for solutions to secure medical care for citizens. Mayor Olaf Schulze (SPD), state parliament member Andrea Tschacher (CDU) and Oliver Brandt from the Greens met in the town hall to explore scope for action at the local and state level. Security of supply on site is the top priority, said Schulze.

The situation is explosive because this is the hospital's second bankruptcy within a year. The first bankruptcy was filed in September 2024, when the house was still under the ownership of Johanniter. In July 2025, the CTP group took over the clinic, which has since operated as Vitalcampus Geesthacht. Expectations were high and a deficit should be avoided, but the opposite happened: the hospital has been recording monthly losses of around 600,000 euros since the summer. These numbers are surprising because it was originally assumed that there would be a “black zero”.

The causes of the crisis

The reasons for the financial problems are diverse: performance increases of the targeted 15 percent could not be achieved, collaborations failed, and the upcoming hospital reform in Germany from 2026 is putting additional pressure on decision-makers. Employees and patients face uncertain times, as up to 250 jobs could be lost. Around 700 employees are directly affected by the bankruptcy.

The future of several departments is particularly critical, including gynecology and obstetrics, which could close on March 31, 2026. The Hamburg lawyer Andreas Romey has been appointed as provisional administrator, and the lawyers from Mulansky + colleagues from Dresden are monitoring the consultation process. At a meeting of the Social Committee of the Schleswig-Holstein State Parliament on November 6, 2025, further questions about the future of healthcare in Geesthacht will be discussed, in particular about the responsibility of the investor Thomas Pötzsch.

This crisis is not isolated, as the healthcare industry in Germany is in a general low. Several hospitals have already filed for bankruptcy, underscoring the need for sustainable business and health system reform. Local politicians and the population are hoping for solutions so that Geesthacht not only remains a beacon, but also a stable location for health care.

Overall, it remains to be seen what will happen next for Geesthacht Hospital. The challenges are great and quick solutions are required.