The case in summary: The new hospital in Narvik, which opens in the spring, is in danger of losing important services such as emergency surgery and maternity services due to restructuring in Helse Nord. Deputy head of SV, Marian Hussein, criticizes the plans and believes they threaten public health services for the decentralized settlement in the north. Managing director of Futurum AS, Lars Sigur Eide, believes that a good hospital offer is crucial for business development and to discourage people leaving the region. Health and Care Minister Ingvild Kjerkol emphasizes that the government is responsible for ensuring proper specialist health services throughout the country, and that there is a need for restructuring due to a lack of personnel and recruitment challenges. State Secretary Karl Kristian Bekeng says that they are concerned that the proposals for changes and measures should contribute to strengthening the quality of patient care and ensure a sustainable development of the service going forward. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – This hospital looks fantastic. That’s what the deputy leader of SV, Marian Hussein, says. She has just been on a tour of the hospital, which opens in the spring. The price tag was originally NOK 2.7 billion. But what was supposed to be a full-fledged emergency hospital can end up being something completely different. A number of services are at risk of being removed due to restructuring in Helse Nord. An alternative is to remove emergency surgery and the maternity services at the hospital in Narvik. – I am actually quite speechless, says Hussein to news. Marian Hussein, deputy head of SV, was very impressed when she got to see the brand new hospital in Narvik. Photo: Frida Brembo / news Not viable The new hospital in Narvik has thus not had time to treat so much as a broken finger before they are in danger of losing services. The paradox causes Hussein to react strongly. – The Center Party and the Labor Party went to the election on the premise that they should reverse the centralization reform of the Solberg government. But now they have proposed to cut more in the hospital structure than what the Conservative Party did. She continues: – And they threaten our common health service more than the bourgeois did. THE DREAM: People in Narvik have long envisioned a modern new hospital. It will be a hospital, but parts of the contents can quickly disappear. Photo: Arkitema and Borealis architects The deputy leader of SV says there must be an investment in public health services for the decentralized settlement in the north. – Then the project Ingvild Kjerkol has started is not viable. What the Minister of Health and Care should have initiated is a strategy to retain personnel and strengthen the structure. – She has done the opposite. This is how the Ministry of Health and Care responds news has submitted the criticism from Marian Hussein to the Ministry of Health and Care. State Secretary Karl Kristian Bekeng responds by e-mail. – Hussein claims that the current government was elected to reverse the centralization reform of the Solberg government, but that the government in practice cuts more in the hospital structure than the previous one. How do you respond to that claim? – Do you understand that it can be perceived that way in Northern Norway, ref. the process that is currently underway in Helse Nord? – The development in Helse Nord is, as you know, very worrying, and the personnel situation is dramatic. Therefore, in November last year, the Minister of Health and Care commissioned Helse Nord to assess improvements in operations and to assess the division of functions and tasks in the region. It is important that this process is carried out now to ensure good and safe hospital services in the north in the future. Municipalities, users, shop stewards and other partners are involved. Five working groups have been set up to assess various service areas, writes Bekeng and adds: -a Helse Nord will issue its recommendations in an open and broad consultation in December, before they are sent to the Ministry of Health and Care and the government for a final decision in April next year. We are concerned that the proposals for changes and measures should contribute to strengthening the quality of patient care and ensure a sustainable development of the service going forward. If we are to have good and safe hospital services in the north, the necessary professionals must also be present. – Furthermore, Hussein claims that the current government “threatens our common health service more than the bourgeois ones did”, and that “what the Minister of Health and Welfare should have initiated is a strategy to retain personnel and strengthen the structure. She (Kjerkol) has done the opposite”. – How do you comment on that? – From day one, we have invested in the professionals in our joint health service. They are our most important resource. At the same time as long-term measures are being assessed to ensure safe hospital provision in the north, the government has proposed earmarking a grant for Health Nord in the proposal for the state budget for 2024, writes Bekeng. He adds: – In connection with the revised national budget, an activity package was allocated for Eastern Finnmark totaling NOK 105 million, of which NOK 15 million to maintain intensive care at Kirkenes Hospital. In the state budget for 2024, the government proposes to transfer NOK 15 million to the intensive care unit at Kirkenes Hospital. In addition, it is proposed to strengthen Kirkenes hospital with a further NOK 20 million as a permanent increased allocation related to emergency and emergency services. We have also proposed a permanent increased allocation of NOK 25 million for further development of the specialist health services at Klinikk Alta. Special priority is given to measures to prevent unnecessary travel for the elderly and chronically ill. Absolutely crucial for business In a part of the country that is struggling with emigration, a lot is being done to create opportunities. In recent years, Narvik municipality and others involved have launched several plans for business development. Among other things, Aker Horizons has billion-dollar plans in the city. Futurum AS is the business company of Narvik municipality. Managing director, Lars Sigur Eide, says it is absolutely essential to have a good hospital offer if they are to get the ball rolling. – There are a lot of people who have invested money and lives here. There are new companies on the way that will invest heavily. Something as basic as a nearby hospital is essential for maintaining faith in the future. Eide explains that many have based their lives on the new hospital being even better in the future. Not worse. SLUGE OPERATION? Who knows what will happen… Photo: Frida Brembo / news Will regret it He believes hospital structure is so important for small communities that it cannot be discussed locally. – The wrong people are working on this case. When Gerhardsen decided in the 60s to close down local communities, it was done at government level. Not in a committee in a healthcare company, says Eide and adds: – Such basic functions as we are talking about here must be discussed at a higher political level. – It’s about the proximity of a large hospital in the event of a crisis, says Lars Sigur Eide in Futurum AS. Photo: Futurum AS – What will this do for business and society in Narvik if it becomes a reality? – It will be absolutely fatal. And we see what is happening with the defense with regard to NATO and new front lines against Russia through Finland. We have no idea the contours of what is to come. It would be a complete waste to put down something that potentially needs to be refitted. – I think people will regret not thinking long-term if this happens. Mayor of Narvik municipality, Rune Edvardsen, showed the CEO of Aker ASA, Øyvind Eriksen, the possibilities of a disused airstrip. Photo: Petter Strøm Who is responsible? So what do they say further up the system? This week, Storting representative Geir Jørgensen (R) had the opportunity to ask questions of the Minister of Health and Care. During question time in the Storting, he asked: Ingvild Kjerkol immediately pointed out that Helse Nord is in a demanding situation. – The situation is not sustainable. The hospitals have a shortage of personnel and have recruitment challenges. A change is needed. The minister emphasized that the medical specialization means that more professionals are needed, but that the population in the region is decreasing. Overall, this means that the government believes that a restructuring of a long-term nature must be in place. – In November last year, I therefore tasked Helse Nord with assessing the improvement in operations and assessing the function and division of tasks in the region with the aim of ensuring a good and equal service in the north. Who is responsible? asks Geir Jørgensen (R). Photo: Stortinget – Helse Nord is following up on that mission now. Municipalities, users, shop stewards and other collaborative actors are involved, Kjerkol continued and explained the process that is underway. Important dates in the process: 14. December 2022: The board adopts the Regional Development Plan for Helse Nord 2023–2038 9 November 2022: The Ministry of Health and Care (HOD) commissions Helse Nord to look at measures that involve changes in the division of functions and tasks to ensure sustainability 23 February 2023: The board of Helse Nord adopts the framework for further work 29 March 2023: The board of Helse Nord adopts specific areas to be investigated further 31 May 2023: The board of Helse Nord adopts mandate by mandate for the investigation work and how the investigation work is to be organised. Among other things, they decide that five working groups will be set up to investigate different areas. 22 June 2023: The board of Helse Nord RHF adopts a revised progress plan for the work. 26 June 2023: A joint start-up meeting for the five working groups that will investigate various sub-areas for the division of functions and tasks in Helse Nord is established and the work starts. During the investigation period, the working group must present one report in its area. The five interim reports must be brought together in one joint, comprehensive plan. August/September 2023: Individual start-up meetings for the working groups. 10 November 2023: The working groups’ recommendations, including risk and vulnerability analysis, are delivered to the coordination group in Helse Nord RHF. 24 November 2023: The comprehensive plan for the division of functions and tasks, including ROS analysis, is finalised. 20 December 2023: The board adopts a consultation draft of the comprehensive plan with proposals for division of functions and tasks in Helse Nord. The plan is sent out for consultation for eight weeks. April 2024: The plan must be adopted by the board of Helse Nord before, if necessary, it is presented to the owner, the Ministry of Health and Care. Source: Health North. She then emphasized to the Storting who is responsible: – Let me make it absolutely clear that it is the government and me as Minister of Health and Welfare who are responsible for ensuring that the population receives proper specialist health services throughout the country, said Kjerkol and added: – For me it is absolutely crucial that this also applies in our northern part of the country. Note: news originally wrote in the case that the hospital would cost four billion. The correct one is 2.7 billion. – For me, it is absolutely crucial that this also applies in our northern part of the country. Photo: Stortinget
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Costs 2.7 billion – can cut the offer in the same breath – news Nordland
