– I experienced that I broke laws and rules every single day. That’s why I resigned. That’s what Marie says to news. The 52-year-old nurse does not dare to come forward with her full name. She is afraid of being frozen out and banned from working. Marie currently works as a nurse elsewhere in the country. When she resigned as a nurse at Ullern health center, she had repeatedly notified the management about what she believed to be illegal and undignified conditions. – I had a bad feeling constantly. Patients had to lie down for a long time before receiving care, and some did not get up until late in the day. We know of stories about patients who have been left lying for hours with poo in their nappies – quite simply, says Marie. news has previously told a number of patient stories from Ullern health centre. Health councilor Robert Steen has stated that an external investigation of the conditions at the health center will be started. He has also set aside 3.8 million to strengthen staffing at the health center in the first half of 2023. – It still hurts to think about Nurse Marie says that she herself took the initiative to share her experiences with the management at the health center. – Then I got the answer that “it was a shame that I felt that way”. I think it’s not about how I feel, but that the patients should receive qualified health care, she states. One single episode in particular made a strong impression on the nurse. – There was a beautiful, weaver woman in her 90s who I was supposed to be dining with. But then another patient arrived straight from the hospital, whom I had to help immediately. When I returned, the woman was asleep sitting in the chair. So I laid her down and told her to take her shoes off, as it is uncomfortable to sleep with shoes on. Then she replied that “I see how busy you all are, so you won’t have to put on my shoes when you get back”. – This made a big impression on me. It is undignified, and still painful to think about, says Marie. Resigned after three shifts She is also not the only one to resign from her position at Ullern health center due to unworthy conditions. Nursing student Karoline also had enough. She had previously worked in several nursing homes, but had enough at Ullern health center after only three shifts. Karoline does not want to come forward with her full name either. – I didn’t feel I could work there. I remember thinking that if this is what it’s like to work in the health service, then I’m not sure if I still want to become a nurse, says Karoline. Nursing student Karoline left Ullern health center after a short time. Photo: Roy Pettersen / news For her, understaffing was also the biggest problem. In addition, she reacted to the routines and the working environment in relation to the other nursing homes she had worked for. – During the evening shifts, there were so few people at work that we had to put a patient on the toilet, and then go to another patient in the meantime, and then again put that patient on the toilet. It was so busy. What if something had happened while we were gone? – It was just uncomfortable and painful to watch, says Karoline further. Claims the services are sound Director of the Swedish Nursing Home Agency, Helge Jagmann, says that he believes Ullern health center provides sound health services. – So it is probably the case that the Dagsrevy features have shown that the quality of what we have delivered is not quite up to par. We have a lot to do here, and of course we work on this all the time, says Jagmann. More and more patients are being discharged from hospitals earlier, and are worse off. They therefore demand more from the health centres, he explains. Helge Jagmann, director of the nursing home agency. Photo: Helle Fjelldalen / news At the same time, there are more people with severe dementia who also come into the health centres. This creates challenges for the services, he believes. – There has been a lot of increased pressure, after the pandemic and in the situation we are in now. I very much agree with, and have great understanding for, those who find it very demanding to work in the health services and care for the elderly as it is today, says Jagmann. – The need for qualified personnel is very large, and will be very challenging in the coming years. We have to look at how we are going to organize these services in order to be able to look after all elderly people who need care in the years to come, he says further. Ullern health center. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news The health center became municipal after December 2019. Since then, Jagmann believes that they have increased their professionalism, including with more medical services and rehabilitation expertise in physiotherapy. – We have also strengthened the night service with nurses. Now, after this situation has arisen, we have significantly strengthened the staffing in the evenings, and also brought in food hosts who relieve health personnel. In addition, we have increased staffing at reception and reception services, so that it is open in the afternoon and evening when the patients arrive, he says.
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– Felt that I broke laws and rules every single day – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
