How many of those who voted Yes have been to an A&E department this year?

The last time I was in an A&E department, it took 7 hours until I was admitted as an inpatient and another 4 hours until I was registered at the hospital. (Only then did I have the chance to get something to eat)

Furthermore, I was placed in a different ward from the one that would actually have been appropriate for my condition. The hospital was simply completely full.

The A&E department was also so overwhelmed that some patients were lying in the corridor. Among them a child of about 10 years old. And I'm talking about a normal Tuesday afternoon in a rural area.

I really don't want to know what will happen if even more hospitals close.

Do you really want to make savings at any cost? When you're also in an emergency situation one day, do you really want to be treated in the corridor of a hospital because there simply isn't any space left?

I don't think this is a panacea for reducing healthcare costs, but it's certainly an avenue worth exploring. Contrary to some comments questioning mountain hospitals, I believe it's primarily on the plateau, where mobility is easiest, that such measures can be implemented. For example, do the hospitals in Aarberg and Riggisberg make sense so close to Bern? Converting some rural or mountain hospitals located in strategic places into outpatient centres could also be a good solution to maintain a limited but valued presence. For instance, Visp is closing its hospital in favour of the one in Brig but is keeping an outpatient presence in the town centre.