Wir überwinden Grenzen

The Medical Center - University of Freiburg and the Freiburg food bank offer low-threshold access to medical advice

Setting a joint example for preventive healthcare and social responsibility: The Medical Center - University of Freiburg and the Freiburger Tafel food bank have launched a project that gives people in need low-threshold access to medical care. Since March 2024, visitors to the Freiburger Tafel have been able to get advice on their heart health at an on-site medical consultation once a month. Two physicians from the Department of Cardiology and Angiology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg take care of visitors to the Tafel during each appointment. They talk to those affected about their symptoms, check their medication and measure vital signs such as blood pressure.

"The project aims to open a door to the healthcare system for people. Many don't know who to turn to due to language barriers. We can give them an initial assessment and refer them either to their family doctor or to specialists," explains Prof. Dr. Dirk Westermann, Medical Director of the Department of Cardiology and Angiology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. "In one case, we were even able to take a patient with an acute heart attack directly to the emergency room and save his life."

Interested parties can register in advance on a list for the examinations. The appointments are fully booked after just a few days. "It's just wonderful to see our customers taking advantage of this opportunity and that we can also support them in health matters," says Hans-Herbert Weyer, member of the board of the Freiburger Tafel.

The Freiburger Tafel has been helping people in need for 25 years. It collects surplus but good quality food from supermarkets, bakeries and other grocery stores and makes it available at low cost.

Photo: Prof. Dr. Dirk Westermann (1st from left) and Hans-Herbert Weyer (1st from right) lead the project at the Freiburger Tafel; two medical staff members from the Department of Cardiology and Angiology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg carry out the examinations.