- BERLIN: A small German village community left in the lurch after their local doctor retired in September has pulled together to try and attract a new GP - by offering free bread, meat, flowers, haircuts and accommodation.
Niko Ringhoff, who runs the butcher's shop in the northwestern village of Lette, is offering a doctor willing to move to the 2,200-strong community free meaty lunches and a complimentary sausage-themed feast when the new surgery opens. "Everybody wants to do something to help get a doctor," he told Reuters.
"We all want to give him a warm welcome and make sure he feels at home here. We desperately need a doctor, but it's difficult to attract one to the countryside." Marion Funke, who runs the local hotel with her husband, is offering a doctor a place to stay for free until he or she finds permanent accommodation.
Other services with which the community hopes to entice a doctor include haircuts on the house at the local salon, complimentary bread rolls from the local baker and free flower arrangements for the surgery from the local florist.