The medical association skeptical of Ulf Kristersson’s announcement

Hundreds of healthcare workers have been notified in several regions – billions to be saved.

But healthcare staff should not be fired, states Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Tv4.

– It’s just a rhetorical move, says Hanna Kataoka, president of the Medical Association at Sahlgrenska.

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Savings in healthcare are expected during the year due to inflation and rising pension costs. According to a survey by the newspaper Care focus done, 19 out of 21 regions answer that savings will be made.

Many of the regions need to save hundreds of millions of kroner. In the Södermanland region, 700 people have already been notified. SEK 1.7 billion is to be saved at the Sahlgrenska emergency hospital in Gothenburg alone.

At the same time, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated in Tv4’s party leader interview that layoffs will not take place.

– The government and the partner parties will present a budget that will also ensure that we do not lay off people in the Swedish healthcare system, he said then.

Hanna Kataoka, who is a senior physician in psychiatry and president of the Medical Association at Sahlgrenska, welcomes the statement, but does not trust it.

– These are really empty promises from both the right and the left. It costs nothing to promise this. Promise instead that the budget should match the care assignment and the work environment. Has Ulf Kristersson spoken to any of us doctors who lead the healthcare system? she asks herself.

Fewer healthcare workers

Although no one will be made redundant, it is clear that the workforce is decreasing in number. It is a stoppage of employment – ​​when someone quits, they must not be replaced.

– At Sahlgrenska University Hospital, we reduce the number of employees by not replacing positions when someone leaves, which places great demands on the operations, says Sahlgrenska Hospital Director Boubou Hallberg.

Hanna Kataoka wants the politicians to take the current crisis seriously in the same way as they did during the pandemic.

– I demand a political gathering for healthcare. It’s the only way. You have to save healthcare now, tomorrow is too late, she says and continues:

– Now the managers in healthcare are working hard to make things as bad as possible. Before citizens can blink, care will be taken away that will take decades to rebuild. Young people leave the profession and irreplaceable skills disappear.

SKR: “Come back as soon as possible”

Sweden’s municipalities and regions, SKR, sees the Prime Minister’s statement positively, but wishes the government to come back as soon as possible with what it means.

“Many regions – and also municipalities – are now being forced to cut back, which in some places also means notice of redundancies. The high inflation and recession hit the regions’ economy straight and we expect a deficit for the regions of SEK 24 billion this year,” says chairman Anders Henriksson in a press release.

They further write that the state “needs to stand for more stable and predictable funding, which enables municipalities and regions to plan long-term”.