The negative consequences of cruise traffic are hotly debated. An important aspect that is not mentioned is the burden on the Norwegian health care system. As a hospital doctor in Tromsø for over 37 years, I have followed the development. When I see from my office window that the big cruise ships are coming to town, I think: What challenges do we have now on the battle unit? The fact is that many employees dread the summer season due to. lower crew. People get acutely ill anyway. The number of beds is often reduced. On the cruise ships there are many elderly and frail passengers who unfortunately become seriously ill. They burden the Norwegian health service. In the neurology department, cruise tourists with cerebral infarction and cerebral haemorrhage dominate. In the medical department, there may be patients with complicated heart and lung disorders. Every year, the orthopedic department receives cruise patients with fractures after a fall. Our operations are basically stipulated to provide our own population with a good and sound emergency service and rehabilitation. Is it right that our own elderly and sick, who have helped to build up the welfare society, should be discharged prematurely due to space problems that arise as a result of the increased number of sick tourists? Patients from cruise ships often have a long stay due to language difficulties, poor interpreting services, unclear agreements with insurance companies and embassies, etc. We have doctors who, for example, spend time finding out more about the dosage of Japanese Parkinson’s drugs. Doctors also spend time discussing patients with transport companies. Patients suffering from stroke should be sent home to other continents in a safe manner. Then often foreign medical personnel must receive a thorough briefing and a good medical report, what we call epicrisis. We call embassy secretaries and insurance companies. This steals time from other patients. We who are in hospital at the ports of call for cruise traffic are particularly charged. The emergency services at other ports of call are also under increasing pressure. The University Hospital in Northern Norway is also responsible for Svalbard, which attracts many cruise ships. If a tourist gets an acute illness, it is an extensive process to get the patient to treatment. Among other things, a separate air transport must be requested, often accompanied by a doctor or nurse. As we spend a lot of our time on these challenges, we need to ensure better staffing, increased beds and better and more accessible interpreting services. Those who make good money on this tourist traffic must contribute more to the community, preferably through a significantly increased port fee or tourist tax. Part of the income can be transferred to hospital operations. Also read:
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Tourist ship loaded with patients – Expression
