NW cantonal council Nidwalden district council grants Spitex a financial injection of 550,000 francs

The Nidwalden District Council wants to protect Spitex from over-indebtedness. It has therefore granted the organization an interest-free loan of CHF 550,000 by 55 votes to 0.

Spitex Nidwalden closed 2023 with a loss of over CHF 345,000. At the same time, equity fell to around CHF 100,000 despite the release of reserves amounting to CHF 740,000.

The reason for this was that care services remained below expectations, contrary to the forecasts of the care sector. Health Director Peter Truttmann (GLP) told the district council on Wednesday that Spitex had been prepared for growth in organizational terms.

Restructuring package takes effect

A restructuring package launched in autumn 2023 has improved the financial situation. Spitex broke even in the first four months of 2024. However, it was not possible to replenish the equity capital, said Truttmann.

District Councillor Judtih Odermatt-Fallegger (FDP), spokesperson for the Finance, Taxes and Social Affairs Committee, said that care services had collapsed last summer. Spitex Nidwalden therefore feared that it would become overindebted if this happened again.

Extraordinary situation

This danger is to be averted with the interest-free loan. The loan can, but does not have to be touched by the organization. Odermatt-Fallegger said that the canton had to offer Spitex a helping hand in this extraordinary situation.

The other parliamentary groups agreed, but also raised questions. Spitex was doing a good job and was appreciated, said the centrists. However, the parliamentary group spokesperson called for the canton to support Spitex and for its structure to be reviewed.

Efficiency required

It was important that the causes of the current situation were identified, said the SVP spokesperson. The GLP spokesperson wondered why it had had to come to this until the rudder had been turned. The FDP spokesperson said that she expected Spitex to provide efficient services.

Spitex Nidwalden has a market share of 80 percent. It has a public mandate and a duty of care, said the spokesperson for the Greens/SP parliamentary group. It is important that the staff are looked after and that Spitex remains an attractive employer.

In addition to the loan granted by the Landrat on Wednesday, the government council has also taken measures in favor of Spitex on its own authority. For example, public services will be remunerated at a higher rate and care fees have been increased.