New crisis alert from the hard-hit hospital • The doctors’ union: The politicians refused to have a dialogue
For nearly ten years, care in the Västernorrland region has been under discussion. Emergency surgery and BB were closed in 2017. Last spring, the politicians presented an investigation to move almost all care from Sollefteå – surgery, intensive care, medical departments with inpatient care and the emergency room. It is proposed that there will only be a few care places in the geriatrics.
The investigation has stirred up strong feelings as the report on which it is based contains several inaccuracies, say critics, and because healthcare personnel were not given the opportunity to contribute.
Ignoring patient safety
– The governing parties, S, M and C, refused to have a dialogue with us business representatives or staff representatives. I think that is unfortunate, because we had important inputs before the decision, says Lars Rocksén.
The most serious criticism of the investigation is that patient safety is ignored, according to the Medical Association, Ångermanland’s medical association and the local Healthcare Party, which The medical journal reported on.
– When the changes were implemented in 2017, we saw a number of reports to IVO, where there were also deaths involved. Now they are talking about investigating a much more extensive closure of operations, which means a big risk, says Lars Rocksén.
Risk of patients dying
– There is absolutely a risk that patients will be seriously injured and even die if these changes are carried out without taking correct safety measures, says Lars Rocksén.
If the politicians get their way, around 40,000 residents in and around Sollefteå will be without care in the immediate area. The distance to the hospitals in Sundsvall and Örnsköldsvik is 10-20 miles. In good road conditions, a journey of at least 1.5 hours. Often longer.
– This entails great risks, above all with time-critical diseases. This applies to diagnoses such as the heart stopping beating, having a stroke or serious blood poisoning, says Lars Rocksén.
Focused on economics
According to the critics, the politicians have focused on finances in the investigation. Moreover, they are greatly simplified, even incorrect in some parts. For example, cost increases for staff at receiving hospitals in Sundsvall and Örnsköldsvik, which are already heavily burdened today, have not been calculated. Nor have they counted on long ambulance transports between the hospitals in both directions.
– If it is the case that patient safety cannot be guaranteed when these changes are made, then I hope that the politicians will reevaluate, says Lars Rocksén.
The region aware of the criticism
Glenn Nordlund (S), outgoing chairman of the regional board, is aware of the criticism of the report, he tells Läkartidningen. However, he believes that the decision to move care from Sollefteå is firm:
– Now we must develop a basis that can be implemented in a reasonable and patient-safe way. There are two requirements: it must save money and be patient safe. If it is the case that we see that it does not save money or is patient safe, it is difficult to see that we can move forward, says Glenn Nordlund.
The plan is for the regional council to make a decision in February 2025.