The Helse Nord board was pretty much split down the middle during today’s board meeting in the health company. The board met to discuss changes in tasks and the distribution of the various functions. The goal is that workplaces in the future will be easier to staff. In addition, a clear goal for the tried-and-tested healthcare company is to obtain a better economy. In the original setting, it was stated, among other things, that Helse Nord should work for a transition from small and vulnerable to larger and more flexible units and professional environments in all parts of the business. Or centralization of vital health services, as many critics have chosen to call it. A long tug-of-war But many of the board’s members did not agree with either the proposal’s description of reality or the solutions. It all ebbed into a six-hour-long tug-of-war over words, in which many of the board’s members from Nordland in particular wanted to change several wordings in the proposal. One frustrated chairman after another called it all “tile nailing”, and made a number of calls to the board to come to an agreement. Gradually, the breaks also only came more and more frequently, to both clear heads and discuss in the corridor. Then they finally agreed. Now Helse Nord will no longer work for a transition from small and vulnerable units to larger and more flexible units. Instead, they will work for a transition from vulnerable to more robust and flexible units, were among the changes that were made. Surprised director When the debate was over and the decision reached, Acting Managing Director Marit Lind was happy: – And then I’m a little surprised that it seemed to be difficult to adopt it as it was presented. We have now made small adjustments, but the main content is roughly as it was, said Lind. The Minister of Health has given Helse Nord a clear message to take action, and it was these actions that the board met on Thursday to make a decision on. After the vote, news chairman Renate Larsen asked whether she thought the health minister was satisfied with today’s board proceedings – My opinion is that we have delivered, said Larsen. Acting CEO Marit Lind (left) and chairman Renate Larsen ahead of the vote. Photo: Eirik Hind Sveen / news – Time for action Early in the day, Marit Lind presented a description of a reality with a great shortage of professionals. Where there has been a steep development in the number of man-years they have hired into Helse Nord. And where the rental price has been turned up. – The dependence on hiring from agencies is the single biggest reason in the region for the deficit, said Lind. Lind made it clear that if the goal is to find solutions, then changes are needed. – More of the same doesn’t solve anything, said Lind. The will to change was great early in the day. Chairman Renate Larsen believed that the board was faced with a historic task of seeing the entire region as one. A job that no one has done before. – This board has a heavy responsibility, said Larsen. And added: – It is time for action. But as the hours went by, the disagreements only became clearer and clearer. – Lack of involvement Board member Kari Marie Baadstrand Sandnes was among the board members who criticized the handling of the case, and came up with a separate proposal which meant that the case first had to be better anchored before a decision could be made. – I believe that this matter needs stronger grounding, says Sandnes during the debate. She is a group shop steward in the Trade Union and represents the employees on the board. Many, including the medical associations in the north and local mayors in the health organisation’s host municipalities, believe that Helse Nord is in full swing of steering towards cuts and centralization of vital health services for people in the district. In addition, Helse Nord has received harsh criticism for not involving those concerned, such as the municipalities or the health services themselves. Sandnes believes that the process ahead of today’s board meeting has been done without enough involvement from those concerned who work at the various health services in the region. – You don’t have a good enough basis for making a decision, she said.
ttn-69
A long tug-of-war over words ended with a decision to work for more robust units – news Troms and Finnmark
