Westallgäu Klinik in Wangen treats record 100 emergency patients in a day

On 22 July 2026 the Central Emergency Department (ZNA) of the Westallgäu Klinik in Wangen treated 100 patients within 24 hours, the highest daily total in its history. The day was a normal weekday with no large events or extreme weather, and the case mix covered the full range of emergency medicine, from heart attacks and pneumonia to poisonings and injuries.

The record reflects a long‑term rise in demand: emergency visits grew from about 14,000 in 2021 to over 22,000 in 2025, a 58 % increase. Closures of nearby hospitals in Bad Waldsee, Lindenberg and the Tettnang emergency department have shifted additional patients to the Westallgäu Klinik. Since early June the department averages 77 patients per day, ten more than its annual mean, and it expects roughly 25,000 emergency cases in 2026. Despite the surge, the average length of stay on the record day was 1 hour 50 minutes, below the usual 2 hours 20 minutes. Ten doctors, ten nurses and support staff from other hospital areas managed the workload, with Dr Timo Gentner serving as the lead physician.

Hospital officials say the record underscores the need for continued staff expansion, facility upgrades and process improvements to ensure reliable emergency care for the region.