– We have worked our way out, says Bård Hoksrud, who is health policy spokesperson in the FRP. He admits that the politicians have missed the mark when they have chosen to reduce inpatient places in psychiatry. 4,035 overnight places have disappeared in 30 years, according to figures from Statistics Norway. In the last 20 years, the places have been halved. – It is extremely much. It shows that we politicians were wrong, and then we have to make amends, he says. On Saturday, news told about Stine and the family who live in fear that their brother might kill the next time he goes into a psychosis. The story makes an impression on Hoksrud. – We need to take care of the very mentally ill and their families, who will constantly have to live with the terrible fact of never knowing what might happen, he says. Thinks the downsizing has gone too far Psychiatrist Randi Rosenqvist believes history is an example of the political development having gone too far. – It has been built down far too much, points out psychiatrist Randi Rosenqvist. She believes the number of inpatient places should be doubled to give patients more coherent treatment. Photo: Martin Torstveit / news According to Rosenqvist, politicians have been concerned with reducing beds in the belief that patients are best off staying at home and receiving outpatient treatment once a week, she points out. The municipalities have enormous problems in following up some of these patients, Rosenqvist believes. – They don’t have anything to complain about, whereas psychiatry actually has the opportunity if they had used it and had enough beds, she says. Hoksrud agrees. – We thought it was smart, but we have ticking bombs going off. We see examples of that, he says. The number of overnight places must be increased, and consent competence must be changed, he believes. – We see that many more need proper treatment, need to be in an institution and have 24-hour treatment, he says. – Don’t live in fear Truls Vasvik (Ap), who is a member of the health and care committee in the Storting, also believes that the downsizing has gone too far. – I can only imagine the anxiety or frustration of those who live with this every day. It hurts to see, says Truls Vasvik, parliamentary representative for Ap. Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news In his home town of Larvik, he has seen examples of how things can go wrong. The local newspaper Østlandsposten presented several cases about this at the weekend. – No one should live in fear in their neighbourhoods, and that their loved ones will become murderers, he says. The politicians’ willful policy of reducing the long-term places has been wrong, he believes. – I think a united political Norway should admit that this has gone too far, and I am glad that we are now reversing the trend, he says. In the national budget earmarked funds have now been set aside to strengthen overnight places. – It is a goal to get more and better 24-hour places, and not send everyone home to the municipalities, says Vasvik. An escalation plan for mental health is to be submitted during the spring. The municipalities are unable to help The cuts in inpatient places have led to many tragedies, says the head of the National Association for Relatives in Mental Health (LPP), Christine Lingjærde. The cuts are at the expense of the sickest, who need help over time. They cannot be followed up by relatives and the municipality, she points out. – They are unable to help very sick people, says Lingjærde. Instead, they become revolving door patients in psychiatric hospitals, she points out. – If they don’t take their own lives because they get completely desperate that they don’t get follow-up and help. This has not worked, she says. It has gotten worse in the last eight years, and hospitals are almost required to discharge as early as possible, Lingjærde believes. She hopes it is possible to turn around. – We are in a crisis. The resources must return to the healthcare system. Staff and relatives are under undue pressure. Lack of services for the mentally ill in prison: – We have no expertise
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Hoksrud believes the downsizing of overnight places has been a mistake – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
