The PET/CT machine, which, among other things, diagnoses cancer patients, is in a temporary room and will have to move out of it by 2025. The plan was that it would then move into a completely new and approved room, because a large-scale development to 1.2 billion is in time at the hospital. But then there is not enough money to build the venue now anyway. Healthcare personnel are concerned that new hospital buildings across the country are being built far too small. – Inexplicable It was the association “Sykehuset Vårt” that collected money and gave the machine as a gift to the hospital. Chairman Runar Paulsen is upset that there may now be a stop to the offer. – I couldn’t believe what I read. Here, a gift has been given to the hospital of the very best quality in a European context. The boards of both Helse Møre and Romsdal and Helse Midt-Noreg have approved the investment at Ålesund hospital, and then we are in danger of losing the offer. It is incomprehensible to me, he says. He points out that Helse Midt-Noreg already uses this type of diagnosis the least of the healthcare companies in the country, and that it will greatly affect the patients in Møre and Romsdal if the offer in Ålesund disappears. The machine is currently in temporary premises, but there are strict requirements for radiation protection, and approved premises must therefore be in place. Photo: Remi Sagen / news Fantastic gift – but can’t find a place Per Erik Tødenes, head of the diagnostic clinic in Ålesund, says the machine was a gift they were very happy with. – It is fantastic that the best PET machine in all of Europe is in Ålesund. He says the machine is used in more and more fields, and that it is very important for them that the competence the staff has built does not suffer a setback because they do not have their own premises. Per Erik Tødenes, head of clinic at the clinic for diagnostics, Ålesund hospital. Photo: Remi Sagen / news – We have detailed the new area for this machine and a similar machine that makes up this specialized offer. So it is our first priority to get it in there, but it is written on the funds, he says. He says Helse Møre and Romsdal are working on how to solve the situation, but that the economy is a big challenge, and it is beginning to be urgent. Managing director of Helse Midt Noreg, Stig Slørdal, says it is the financial management of Helse Møre and Romsdal that determines how long they have to wait to get premises for the PET scanner in place. A new emergency department, a new intensive care unit and an updated operating department are to be built at Ålesund Hospital, but there is currently no money to build rooms for the PET/CT machine, which diagnoses around 400 people a year. Photo: Øyvind Sandnes / news I think several hospitals are being built too small The Medical Association has long been concerned that Norwegian hospitals are being built too small, and that it is too easy to cut the building stock when, among other things, price increases lead to budget gaps. Both the Medical Association and the Academicians have separately produced reports showing that hospitals are being built that are too small in Norway, and they believe the funding model must be changed. Anne-Karin Rime, president of the Medical Association. Photo: Legeforeningen/Thomas B. Eckhoff President of the Legeforeningen Anne-Karin Rime believes that it becomes expensive to run a hospital when too few or small rooms means that healthcare personnel have to queue to be able to do their tasks. She points out that both Akershus University Hospital and Østfold Kalsnes Hospital were built for small children. In addition, the trustees are concerned that Stavanger University Hospital and Hammerfest Hospital, which are currently under construction, will also be too small when they are finished. – We work hard to change the model, but it often feels like a defensive battle, she says. The new Hammerfest hospital is under construction. Photo: Allan Klo / news Head of the advisory and early phase department at Sykehusbygg HF, Marte Lauvsnes, disagrees that new Norwegian hospitals are usually built too small. But says it is important to learn from previous projects. – We have a very good dialogue with the Medical Association about it. And the so-called projection model, which is used as a basis for calculating the size of hospital buildings, will soon be fully revised, says Lauvsnes. Hoping for a solution At the hospital in Ålesund, they have not given up the fight to get space for the important diagnostic machine that around 400 patients from Møre and Romsdal benefit from this year. The association Sykehuset Vårt hopes the solution can be found with the Storting politicians. – We are traveling to the Storting on 14 November to talk to key politicians about the lack of funding for the development at Ålesund Hospital, says Runar Paulsen. The PET/CT scanner at Ålesund Hospital faces an uncertain future. Photo: Remi Sagen / news
ttn-69
hospital is being built for little ones – no room for PET scanners at Ålesund hospital – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
