Wir überwinden Grenzen

inform - advise - support

The social workers of the Social Services Department at the University Medical Center Freiburg have set up a social fund for patients.

People without a job or on a low income are particularly affected by the financial losses that (chronic) illnesses can bring. The social service advises patients and relatives in a wide range of situations and works with them to find individual help and support options. Sometimes, however, the most basic necessities are lacking and it takes time for applications to be approved. Help is often needed quickly. In such cases, even small amounts of money can help to alleviate illness-related hardship.

Three examples of what donations to the social fund have already achieved:

• A seriously ill woman was being treated as an inpatient at Freiburg University Hospital. Due to the progression of her illness, it was not possible for her to return to her home - palliative care was to be organized. She had no relatives and no social contacts here. She wanted to spend the rest of her life close to her family, who live 800 kilometers away from Freiburg. The doctors treating her found a place on a palliative care ward at her son's place of residence. However, the costs for the patient transport were not covered by the health insurance company. The family's financial situation was strained and the son did not know how to finance the transfer. A grant from the social fund provided the family with support and financial relief during this difficult time.
• An extremely premature baby was being treated at the children's hospital. The little boy had already survived several critical situations and, according to medical assessment, should be treated as an inpatient for another three months or so. The mother lived in the family home during the treatment. The father came every Saturday from his home 130 kilometers away to visit his wife and child. He had also made several emergency trips when the child's survival was in doubt. The parents reported a considerable burden due to the gasoline costs. Before the child was born, the mother worked part-time in the catering trade and the boy's father worked as a craftsman. The family received a subsidy for travel costs from the social fund.
• One man was treated at Freiburg University Hospital for several weeks for lung problems and infected wounds. He had no fixed abode and no money at his disposal. The social welfare office at his last place of residence had stopped making payments as he had not registered locally. Thanks to financial support from the social fund, he was able to afford everyday necessities such as stamps and newspapers during his stay in hospital.