Birth Clinics in Hesse: State Sees Supply Secured - Hesse's maternity ward crisis deepens as closures leave districts without care

Hesse now has 39 maternity wards in operation, following a steady decline over the past decade. Since 2015, 14 such units have closed across the state, leaving some districts with no local facilities at all. Officials insist that despite the reductions, obstetric care remains fully accessible.

As of December 18, 2025, Frankfurt leads the region with five maternity wards. Wiesbaden, Gießen, and the Main-Kinzig district each have three, while cities like Fulda, Darmstadt, Offenbach, and Kassel retain just two.

Meanwhile, entire districts—including Darmstadt-Dieburg, Rheingau-Taunus, and Vogelsberg—have no maternity units left. Several other areas survive with only a single ward, raising concerns about local access.

The Hesse Ministry of Health, under Minister Diana Stolz, has stated that comprehensive obstetric services continue to be available. However, no recent data confirms whether further closures have occurred since 2015 under her leadership.

The number of maternity wards in Hesse has dropped significantly over the last ten years. With 14 closures since 2015, some districts now lack any local provision. Authorities maintain that despite the cuts, expectant mothers still have access to necessary care across the state.