Have you been tested for Covid? Have you had your iron values measured? Have you had a heart attack? Then it is a bioengineer who has analyzed the blood samples. They are mainstays in Norwegian hospitals. Without them, the hospitals will have major problems. Nevertheless, there is a huge shortage. There is no indication that it will be resolved anytime soon. – The closure of the maternity ward at Stokmarknes is just the beginning, says Rita von der Fehr, chairman of the professional board of NITO. Now a warning is being shouted. Have you taken a blood sample that has been sent to a laboratory? Yes No Don’t know Show result May affect several hospitals Last week the news came that Stokmarknes Hospital had to turn the maternity ward into a delivery room at night. Cause? Shortage of bioengineers. Rita von der Fehr, chairman of the professional board of NITO, describes the situation as critical. Two out of three medical decisions in hospitals are made on the basis of a laboratory answer, according to the chairman of the professional board. Photo: Svein A. Liljebakk / The bioengineer Several hospitals may find themselves forced to close down important services if the shortage persists, she says. – There is no doubt that we will not be able to get all the bioengineers we need, she says to news. Both NITO and Statistics Norway have reportedly warned about the upcoming bioengineering shortage for several years. Number of applicants for bioengineering studies in Norway as of April 2022 The study offers below are listed as bioengineering studies on Utdanning.no. The figures are from Samordna Opttak. 363 study places in bioengineering available at Norwegian universities and colleges. 6,371 applicants had bioengineering on their list. 925 applicants had bioengineering as their first choice. – If we fail to train enough bioengineers, this will spread throughout the country, says Fehr. Every year there are good numbers of applicants for the education. What is the reason then? Going beyond employees NITO has recently prepared a report that addresses the situation. It points out, among other things, that only 40 per cent of those who start the education benefit from public health services. Only four out of ten who start a bioengineering education end up working in public healthcare. Illustration: Malin Nygård Solberg / news Monica Dammen Mathisen is a bioengineer and shop steward at Nordlandssykehuset Gravdal in Lofoten. Mathisen says that this is a crisis they have been aware of for a long time. Among other things, she points out that many are retiring, that too few are being educated and that something must be done about pay conditions and disability allowances. She also says that those in work are strongly affected by the shortage. Monica Dammen Mathisen enjoys her job, but says more bioengineers must be trained. In addition, she believes that wages and disability allowances must be raised. Photo: Private – The fact that there are fewer of us at work means that we have to cover more tasks than if we had enough staff. Mathisen says that their manager has to work in the laboratory with them, when she should actually be doing management tasks in the office. – There have been days where there are so few of us that she simply has to. It has gone so far that it goes beyond both meal and drug breaks, she says and adds: – This is how it will be. Patients must be prioritized. Must have more study places and better pay The bioengineer says she is very happy with her job. That the working day is varied and exciting, and that the environment is good. Nevertheless, the hospitals are struggling to recruit. – The number of study places must increase. Not enough people are being educated. In addition, the salary and the inconvenience allowance must increase. We work at night, evenings and weekends. Around the clock, all year round. It must be lucrative, says Mathisen. Reasons for bioengineering shortages 25 percent of bioengineering students leave before the end of their studies. 26 per cent of the students who are educated will work in sectors other than health. 23 percent of the bioengineers who are employed today will pass the age of 62 within the next ten years and will therefore have to be replaced. Rita von der Fehr at NITO says it will not be possible to fill up with new students at the same rate as bioengineers are retiring. In addition, many students go directly to a master’s degree after completing their education. – Then we get a delay of two years where we don’t get the bioengineers we needed. We are probably seeing some of the effects of that now. Bioengineers are very important in hospitals. Photo: Silje Thalberg / news – Have you done enough to make the authorities aware of the problem? – We have been in a meeting with the Ministry of Health and Care. It is not said that we have the solution, but we want to think together to find the solution. – It’s a shame if they don’t feel heard State Secretary Karl Kristian Bekeng (Ap) tells news that the lack of bioengineers is a situation that the whole of Health Norway recognizes. He says that a commission has been set up. – We have set up a health personnel commission which, from February to next year, will say what needs we have and what analyzes we can make of the lack of professionals across professional sectors. State Secretary Karl Kristian Bekeng (Ap). Photo: Esten Borgos / BORGOS FOTO AS Based on that, the government will follow up, explains Bekeng. – NITO says this is a notified crisis. They don’t feel heard. What do you think about it? – It is a shame if they think they have not been heard. They come from a trade union which is also represented in the commission, Bekeng replies and adds: – We have asked the commission to provide an overall analysis of the skills needed in the hospitals going forward so that we can train, recruit and retain the right professionals to keep the services going in the future . – Do you fear that other hospitals could be affected in the same way as the hospital in Stokmarknes? – It is a big concern that a lack of professionals is affecting the health services people are concerned about. This does not only apply to childcare, but also to other specialist areas. ALSO READ:
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National bioengineering shortage – announced crisis leads to closed hospital services – news Nordland
