– Long live the birth, shouted protestors dressed in buns when Minister of Health Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap) came to the hospital in Kristiansund on Thursday. The problem is that the maternity ward is empty and closed. Lysa has largely been off since February 2021 due to a staffing crisis. – It is important that those who stand and feel the pressure in this case every single day get support to do that job and look after our women in labor. They have clearly asked for a quick clarification on the way forward. I am prepared to give them that within a short time, says Kjerkol. Have you listened? The Storting has decided that the maternity ward in the city will remain open. In addition, the government has granted NOK 25 million to get the department back on its feet. The department was open for three weeks this summer, but after the holidays it had to be closed again due to sick leave. Three hospital managers have resigned from their jobs because they see no solution. The Minister of Health was given a tour of the maternity ward by section leader Johanne Gryt. Photo: Marius André Jenssen Stenberg / news On Thursday, Kjerkol met the trustees, professionals and the management of Helse Møre og Romsdal. She also spoke to the mayors in Nordmøre and Romsdal. – It has been important for me to listen. I have been given a good description of the work that has been done before they were able to reopen the maternity ward before the holidays, says Kjerkol. Is closure an option? – Now I will make my assessments and then I will come up with a clarification shortly, says Kjerkol. Not realistic to close immediately Director of Health Møre and Romsdal, Øyvind Bakke, is happy that the Minister of Health came to visit. He says that it is a demanding situation. – We have been recruiting diligently for over a year and a half, but have not been successful. What do you say to those who claim they have done too little? – I think we go to great lengths to be successful and far more than any other recruitment process, says Bakke. He does not think it is realistic that there will be a solution within a short time. For that, they lack too many professionals and especially gynaecologists. For the maternity services to be safe, there must be four gynecologists on duty, according to Bakke. – Hasn’t done enough Marie Grødahl Brekkan in the Bunadsgeriljaen thinks it hasn’t done enough to reopen the maternity ward. Photo: Marius André Jenssen Stenberg / news The Bunads guerrillas did not get their own meeting with the Minister of Health. Manager Marie Grødahl Brekkan expects that today’s meeting will lead to the maternity ward being reopened and that they will do everything they can to recruit the last professionals who are missing. – I know they haven’t done enough. It shows that there is no will to reopen. They clearly have an agenda to stay closed, Brekkan believes. She believes that many thousands are behind them in the fight to reopen the maternity ward, even though there were not that many who turned up for the demonstration. – Commitment grows. People are getting angrier and angrier for this injustice, says Brekkan. Several showed up with posters outside the hospital. Photo: Marius André Jenssen Stenberg / news The maternity wards in Møre and Romsdal are at breaking point
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