Several nurses at 1177 in the Stockholm Region testify to time pressure and to a management that set the goal that conversations should not last longer than six minutes.
But no such requirement exists, says Christine Lorne (C), who is primary care regional council in Region Stockholm:
– I think it sounds strange, she says to TV4 Nyheterna.
TV4 Nyheterna has previously reported that nurses on 1177 in the Stockholm Region are required to keep calls to less than 6 minutes. If the conversations got longer, the nurses were allowed to talk to the manager.
The reporting has provoked strong reactions and Minister for the Elderly Anna Tenje (M) is concerned that people are at risk of falling through the cracks.
– If you have multiple illnesses or are confused, you must be given plenty of time to explain what is wrong, otherwise you risk life and health and not getting the right treatment, she says.
There is no such requirement
At the same time, the regional council in Stockholm, Christine Lorne, says that there are no requirements from the region for the talks to be held for exactly 6 minutes.
– Now I’m a nurse myself and I know what a very difficult job these nurses do, and I think it sounds strange. At the same time, it is also important that you use the aids that are available to actually push a call forward and that you arrive at what the problem you are calling about actually is, says Christie Lorne.
Region Stockholm will now follow up the data on the time pressure with 1177.
– We have continuous follow-ups with 1177 and we will certainly talk about this in the future as well, what the working environment for the staff is like, says Christine Lorne.
“Never felt so watched”
According to the nurses that TV4 Nyheterna has been in contact with, measurements are taken to see if the meal has been reached in less than six minutes. It is also something that can then be taken up in employee interviews and in assessments regarding extensions of temporary work. Several employees and former employees of 1177 in the region testify to the same thing, but no one dares to tell openly.
– They are stubborn if you don’t reach the goals. They check your average time every day and every week. If you have too long conversations, you are called to a meeting with your boss, says a nurse.
– I have never felt so monitored at a workplace before. It’s a terrible pressure to keep six minutes regardless of patient. If you have an average time of eight minutes, you feel completely useless, says another.
Region Stockholm states that employees are not evaluated in relation to the meal and that there are no consequences or rewards for the nurses based on the length of the calls.