The healthcare crisis is Kristersson’s and Åkesson’s fault

KATRINEHOLM. The alarms replace each other about the crisis in healthcare.

In Sörmland, the region is forced to borrow money to pay employees – and department heads warn that patient safety is at risk.

– Ulf Kristersson said he would get Sweden in order. I don’t think the voters expected this, says S-leader Magdalena Andersson.

Hospital staff, specialist representatives, and municipal managers have taken a seat in a coffee room in the Kullbergska hospital in Katrineholm. They agree that the crisis in care is the worst since the 90s and that the hospital is now on “artificial respiration”.

– We have signaled since December that we will not make it after January 15, now the date has passed. Patient safety is at risk, says Johan Edlund, head of care in the emergency department.

At the end of last year, the region was forced to take the unusual step of borrow money – so that the employees could receive their salaries, according to Läkartidningen.

– We had a deficit in 2018, it was 100 million. We are now approaching SEK 1 billion in deficit. The situation is very strained, says Magnus Johansson, director of health and medical care in Region Sörmland.

“Prioritized tax cuts”

Sörmland is not the only region with financial problems. The crisis is spreading around the country – 17 out of 21 regions are expected to run a deficit this year. Sweden’s largest hospital, Sahlgrenska in Gothenburg, has a historic deficit of 1.7 billion. According to Today’s Medicine it is expected to lead to the ultimate disaster – that more patients die.

Aftonbladet accompanies S leader Magdalena Andersson on a visit to the Kullbergska hospital in Katrineholm. Her analysis is that Ulf Kristerssons (M) and Jimmie Åkessons (SD) have caused the crisis by prioritizing tax cuts over money for the regions.

– For the regions, the state grants are absolutely crucial. But inflation, which everyone feels when they walk into the grocery store, is felt in healthcare as well. So even if the addition to the regions has been increased, it will be a saving, a cut, she says.

Magdalena Andersson believes that the government should already now give notice of extra money to the regions in the spring budget. This is so that staff do not need to be dismissed unnecessarily.

The bank directors must contribute more

What would you do if you had the power?

– I had given more money to municipalities and regions. Last year we proposed twice as much to the healthcare system as the government, an extra SEK 10 billion. In addition, we need to adjust the state grants for inflation.

Should the state borrow money to cope with the crisis?

– We have shown in our budget proposal that it is possible to avoid it. You can manage it even with today’s surplus target.

Where will the money come from?

– We have proposed a bank tax that could have raised SEK 10 billion. The bank directors must be involved and contribute a little more. We also do not think that the tax for high income earners should be reduced by SEK 13 billion. But Jimmie Åkesson and Ulf Kristersson think that is a more important priority.

A money issue

SHospitals also suffer from structural problems, it’s not just a question of money?

– Absolutely, but here and now it’s a matter of money. Then there are many structural issues, but you don’t have time to work on them now because you have to make sure that the business comes together.

Shouldn’t the regions have saved more to cover the deficits, as Swedish business has previously said?

– It is like saying that it is the additions under the social democratic government that will solve the problems that this government has created.

Could you have acted differently when you were in power?

– This is a crisis that has been created now. Most regions had a good economy in 2021 and into 2022. Then you can always discuss resources, for example staffing and digitization. But we made special investments in both doctors and healthcare education.

The government: We prioritize welfare

Aftonbladet has sought the Minister of Health Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD) for an interview. Her press secretary says she is unavailable and refers to a written response.

“It is a tough economic situation for the regions. That is why the government added a sector grant specifically aimed at healthcare of three billion. The government gave early notice of payments to the regions of a total of 9.8 billion before Christmas in order for the regions to be able to plan their activities as early as possible and to be able to use the money from the state in a good way. 40 percent of the reform space went to welfare. In the last budget, they received a total of 30 percent of the budget space. This government prioritizes welfare and Sweden’s patients. We are following developments closely and will not leave healthcare in the lurch.”