GstaadLife

A delegation from the cantonal council recently engaged in talks with members of the hospital interest groups from the Simmental. The delegation is currently seeking talks with the responsible people in Saanenland as well. Maybe they can talk some sense into both groups so that finally the hospital location can be settled. Otherwise if things don't get sorted by the end of next year, the possibilities for government funding go away, they'll claim there are no funds to realize anything new or even maintain the existing facilities, and we'll all be off to Thun or Bulle for anything more than trip to the family doctor. Come on people, enough already.

Health and welfare director and federal councilor, Philippe Perrenoud, is asking the population of Canton Bern to get vaccinated against the swine flu (H1N1). The vaccination is voluntary and free. Local doctors and the hospitals Saanen and Zweisimmen have the details.

Last Saturday November 20, a 20 year-old man fell into an off-piste crevasse on Glacier 3000.  Thankfully he was rescued, though injured, and was taken to hospital by helicopter. With the weekend coming up again, and no sign of snow in the valley, we want to remind you to stay on piste on the glacier, especially this early in the season, and be careful.

Another possibility for the hospital location: East of the base station of Saanersloch.

The John F Kennedy International School in Saanen, which every year holds summer camps during the school holidays, has reported seven children sick with swine flu symptoms. It has now been confirmed that the children were stricken with the influenza A (H1N1) virus, commonly known as swine flu. Altogether 85 kids are participating in the summer camp in the Mountain Lodge in Schönried. The children who got ill were isolated and received the necessary medical treatment. “In most cases the children were completely recovered by the time the test results are made available”, says headmaster Bill Lovell. At the time of the illnesses there was a deputy physician from Canton Bern present, who has assured that there is no danger and no reason for panic. So far there have been 210 cases of swine flu in Switzerland, 26 of them in the canton of Bern.

On our recent off-season/bad weather urge to find something different to do in and around Gstaad, we stumbled across the Arc-en-ciel private spa. We had heard of it before but for some reason never tried it. Well, now we can undoubtedly fully recommend this oasis to you. You get your key to the spa which is situated in the Residence building of the Arc-en-ciel at the reception desk and then you are on your own. Once you found it (which will be about the hardest thing you'll do all day) you unlock the door to a h(e)aven of candlelight and ambient music. Changing room, bathroom, big steam room with light therapy, big bio sauna, rain shower, free-standing bathtube for two, relaxation chairs, fresh fruit - and all of that for just SFr 120 for two people for 2 hours - what a treat. So if naked with strangers is not your thing, and SFr 600 for the Palace's hammam is a tad over-indulgent, then Arc-en-Ciel is your spa ticket. Enjoy!

Above (from left to right): The Friends of Saanen Hospital board members, Constantine Goulandris, George Nicholson, Monica de Dietrich, and Lancelot Frick.

Well, we are not the only ones annoyed with the back and forth concerning the location of the hospital. It has also left the association 'Friends of Saanen Hospital', which has existed for some 10 years now, with a feeling of insecurity and anger. The situation is "unsatisfactory" said Constantine B Goulandris at their general assembly a few weeks ago. They have agreed to give it till the end of 2009 at which time they want clarity. If  at that time neither the hospital is to be renovated in Saanen nor a new one built in Saanenmöser, the friends of Saanen hospital will terminate their association. This is a not insignificant thing: the friends of Saanen hospital have invested about SFr 4 million in the technical and medical upgrades over their years. Yes sure money talks, but sometimes it talks sense.

Saanen (above) and Zweisimmen hospital will keep their acute care for the moment.

A couple weeks back we reported, with more than a hint of ennui, that there was to be a feasibility study conducted this summer on whether the region should have two health centers in Saanen and Zweisimmen, or one shiny new hospital in Saanenmöser (see Green light for Saanen and Zweisimmen hospital plans). While the survey was being conducted, the hospitals were to be turned into health centers with intensive care in Saanen. Well, the Spital STS AG decided otherwise last week: the hospitals are now not going to be turned into health centers until the feasability study is complete and they will be run as usual until that time, which is said to be this fall. So back to the status quo until they figure out whether a new hospital in Saanenmöser is doable. The good thing about this is that the elderly people staying in Saanen now do not have to move and can still spend their time in familiar surroundings maybe even until the new old people's home is built in a few years - maybe the status quo is not such a bad idea after all... For all of you who are here and would like to know more - and support the friends of Saanen hospital - there is a general assembly on Thursday March 19 at 17h00 at the Saanen hospital at which everybody is welcome.