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HEALTH

Austrian ‘angel’ donates €2.2m to English hospice

A secret donation of €2.2 million was provided by a mysterious benefactor hailing from Austria to a hospice in High Wycombe.

Austrian 'angel' donates €2.2m to English hospice
Photo: South Bucks Hospice

The hospice, which looks after terminally ill patients, also provides services to sufferers of other incurable illnesses, lymphoedema and those with chronic illnesses.

It recently disclosed that it had received a donation of €2.2 million from a woman called "Sylvia", who was originally from Austria.  She provided only her first name, and a photograph of herself as a little girl.

According to the Austrian daily Heute, a spokesman for the hospice said that "at first, there was no information about the benefactor.  Then we got the name 'Sylvia', and later there appeared a picture of a little girl."

Finally, some five months after the donation was first made public, we learned more about the story behind the donation.  Apparently, 'Sylvia' came from Austria long ago with her family to settle in High Wycombe. Her mother suffered from a long illness before she died.  Sylvia thought it was important that people like her mother could receive end-of-life care in the area, and thus the donation will fund a new clinic.

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HEALTH

What do you do in Austria if your nearest pharmacy is closed?

It's nine pm in Austria, and you're out of painkillers or decongestants. You're desperate for pain relief but your local Apotheke is shut, so what do you do?

What do you do in Austria if your nearest pharmacy is closed?

In Austria Apotheken (pharmacies) are the only places in which you can purchase painkillers and decongestants. Ostensibly in the public interest, but it’s also a lucrative moneymaker for the businesses. This monopoly on the sale of certain pharmaceutical drugs is a subject frequently debated and is of much consternation for overseas arrivals. 

READ MORE: Why are painkillers only sold in pharmacies in Austria?

However, many Apotheken can close as early as six pm, especially if you live outside a major city centre. If you’re suffering from a cold or a nasty headache, it can seem like an eternity until they reopen. 

Fortunately, there is relief. Emergency situations will always arise, and pharmacies often band together to provide service at nights, over weekends and on public holidays.

This is done on a rota basis, so your local Apotheke may not be open, there will be a Apotheken-Notdienst (Emergency-service pharmacy) within a 5 – 10km range. 

Often, Apotheken will have a sign or screen out the front that gives the address and opening times for Apotheken-Notdienst in the area, updated frequently.

A number of websites also exist that can give you the location of operating Apotheken-Notdienst across Austria, such as APO24.at. Entering your PLZ (or postcode) will list the nearest to you. 

However, if they don’t have online access, dialling 1455 while put you in touch with a service who can either direct you to the Apotheken-Notdienst on duty, or help you in getting you further assistance. 

If all else fails, your local hospital should have a Notfall-Praxis – ostensibly an emergency doctor service out of hours. If you’re prepared to wait, you will be able to see a doctor, and they can either dispense medication, or direct you to the hospital pharmacy with a prescription. 

Before you go, it’s worth brushing up on your vocabulary. The Local has developed a list of vocabulary and phrases that you can use to describe your symptoms to pharmacists and doctors, to help them prescribe the best possible medication.

READ MORE: Colds and flu: What to say if you get sick in Austria

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