The cost of staffing staff in healthcare continues to rise, figures from Sweden’s municipalities and regions (SKR) show, and the Västernorrland region has the highest costs.
Now Kommunal’s chairman is warning that assistant nurses may become a new group hired out by staffing companies, which Kommunal believes would further deteriorate the working environment.
Nurses at Sundsvall’s hospital testify to a poor working environment and low wages. Monica Lövström has resigned because of the work environment, but works for an hourly wage now.
– There have been constant moves, refurnishing of departments. The work pressure was simply too much, she says.
Anneli Norberg trained as a nurse late in life and is not satisfied with the salary development.
– I don’t have much more in salary than when you come from high school. Work experience is not rewarded. Instead of bringing in expensive temporary staff, they need to raise wages, she says.
According to Kommunal, the staff group is tired and substitutes are difficult to find. There is now great concern that assistant nurses are leaving to become contract nurses and that the working environment is thus deteriorating.
– Then we don’t have regular staff who are involved and contribute to business development. The work environment is becoming more strained, says Henriette Eriksson, section chairman of Kommunal i Västernorrland.
Watch the full feature in the player above.