New palliative care building in Munich: What this means for patients!

New palliative care building in Munich: What this means for patients!

Munich's medical landscape will be enriched by an important project in the coming years: The palliative care ward at the Munich Clinic Schwabing is expected to open in mid-2026 in a new building at the Munich Clinic Harlaching. The Schwabing district will have to do without the current eight beds in Schwabing, while ten beds will be available in Harlaching. A total of 18 beds will then be available in the region for people with serious illnesses, which is supported by a joint decision by the city council's health committee. This unanimously voted in favor of merging the palliative care units in order to improve the care situation. But the concerns of residents and politicians, such as Stefan Jagel from the Left and Alexandra Gassmann from the CSU, cannot be overlooked: They are calling for the palliative care ward in Schwabing to be maintained, as there are no comparable offers in Schwabing-West and other parts of the north of Munich.

A significant part of this project is the future project “Mük20++”, which is supported by the Free State of Bavaria and the state capital of Munich with an investment of one billion euros. This not only shows the commitment to better healthcare, but also the need for optimization in the field of palliative medicine. As part of the project, medical departments are to be bundled together to ensure effective patient care.

Facility and range of services of the new palliative care unit

The new palliative care ward in Harlaching promises not only expanded capacity, but also an appealing atmosphere. Single rooms are planned with Scandinavian design, a private bathroom and access to the balcony. Relatives and friends can optionally stay overnight with the patients, which enables special closeness in these challenging times. The ward is operated by an interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, social workers and other specialists who are dedicated to improving the quality of life of seriously ill people.

The offer in the new palliative care ward includes not only medical treatments and pain therapies, but also psychosocial support, spiritual guidance as well as social advice and help with discharge. Regular team meetings ensure that the patient situation and appropriate treatment approaches are always the focus. Admission takes place according to special criteria that are intended to ensure that those affected receive the care they need.

The role of outpatient palliative care

In addition to inpatient care, the outpatient palliative care service will also play an important role. This service is aimed at patients who do not need to be treated in hospital and offers care in their own home. Volunteer helpers provide support here under the guidance of specialist staff in order to improve the quality of life of those affected at home. This is a valuable option, especially for those who wish to die in familiar surroundings. It is important to respect the patient's wishes and to find the best solution together with the treating physicians, be it in a private setting or in a specialized facility.

The developments surrounding palliative care in Munich clearly show that the topic is highly relevant and requires great attention. The next steps in palliative care will be closely monitored, particularly with the planned palliative care inventory report scheduled for 2027.

What we will experience in the coming years is not only a change in spatial care, but also a rethinking towards an integrated approach to palliative care - and that should be of great benefit to both patients and their families.