The difficult and controversial cases have been queued up in Helse Møre and Romsdal lately. But none of these cases in themselves should be the reason why hospital director Øyvind Bakke is now thankful for himself. – There is no single issue that makes me quit, nor the demanding financial situation. It is an overall assessment from my side, he says to news. He says it has been a difficult decision to make. The job has been a way of life for him in recent years. He will not say what he will now work on. – Now I’m mostly ready for a short holiday, then we can take another job after that time, says Bakke. There has been a big dispute around the maternity ward in Kristiansund, where the health minister has also been involved. Archive image. Photo: Marius André Jenssen Stenberg / news Difficult matters Bakke has been hospital director since 2019, when he took over from Espen Remme who was fired. Throughout the pandemic and in the time since, the health insurance company has had several demanding and controversial cases. A few days ago, Bakke received the honorary award from the Norwegian Hospital and Health Service Association (NSH). Sad day. In an extraordinary board meeting on Thursday, the board decided that deputy managing director Heidi Nilsen will take up the role immediately. Bakke is partially relieved of his duties during the notice period. – It is a sad day for Helse Møre and Romsdal. He has made a formidable effort in the three years he has been here. The health insurance ceiling has run a surplus every single year with the exception of one month. And that first involves investments in new medical equipment, most recently with a new MRI machine at Kristiansund hospital, says chairman Ingve Theodorsen. He believes that it is demanding to have a job as a director when there is a lot of resistance, both from employees and residents, to what he refers to as streamlining. – Standing up both internally and not least externally against both torchlight processions and elsewhere, it is demanding, says Theodorsen. The board will now work to find a new director. That Heidi Nilsen will now take over as boss. She thinks it is sad that Bakke is now leaving. At the same time, she is ready to take on the new job. – The first thing I do is to continue the good work, Øyvind and I have worked closely together. So far, she has not decided whether she wants to apply for the position herself. Heidi Nilsen says Helse Møre og Romsdal is a demanding healthcare undertaking to maneuver in, but thinks Bakke has done a good job. Ingve Theodorsen is tired of seeing Bakke go. Photo: Øyvind Sandnes / news – Was a great director The trustees for the Norwegian Nurses’ Association say this was a heavy and sad message to receive. – I think he has been a very good director. We have had a very close collaboration, he has had a very close dialogue with the organizations and the welfare services. It has been incredibly great to experience a director who has turned to us organizations and had such a close dialogue and collaboration as we have had, it has been quite special, says Anette Lekve, enterprise trustee for the Norwegian Nursing Association in Helse Møre and Romsdal. She says she understands the decision he made. But points out that it will be a demanding process to appoint a new director as the situation is now. – It is a difficult situation, and not lucky for the company.
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Hospital director Øyvind Bakke in Helse Møre og Romdal has resigned his position – news Møre og Romdal – Local news, TV and radio
