In September 2020, Morris Owiny was in his native Uganda. He was robbed, beaten in the back of the head and miraculously survived. Just over a year and a half later, he still lives in a nursing home in Sortland. An offer her boyfriend, Sofie Karlsen, believes is anything but appropriate for a young father of young children with a serious brain injury. She has always wanted the municipality to do more. The municipality insists that they offer Morris to live in a housing association. They believe this is an adapted offer based on Morris’ care needs. However, Sofie believes that it is not good enough – and that this is also reminiscent of a nursing home. – It has been very difficult. It’s been the worst time of my life. I feel pressured to accept an offer I feel I can not live with, Sofie says to news. Already in October, Sofie complained to the State Administrator in Nordland about how Morris is being treated. Eight months later, she is still waiting for an answer. – We apologize for the long processing time. We write June in the calendar. The complaint, which was that Morris was not receiving treatment under his rights, is still being processed. – We apologize for the long case processing time, the State Administrator writes in a response to a reminder from Sofie. When can she expect the complaint to be processed? By August 2022. Almost a year after she originally complained. Sofia and Dahlia often visit their father where he lives today. Sofie thinks the treatment is not good enough. Photo: Monica White Martinsen / news For Sofie and Dahlia, this means that they are completely unaware of how the treatment will potentially bring in the future. – That the State Administrator has spent so much time giving me feedback is very despairing. This means that I can not close a sore chapter in life, says Sofie to news. As of today, Sofie lives in what feels like a limbo. – I have no idea how things will be. This is how I have become accustomed to living in recent years. Sortland municipality has not wished to comment on the case, and refers to the fact that the complaint lies with the State Administrator in Nordland. Corona, war and illness create waiting time Sofie and Dahlia have to be patient. But why does it take so long to process a complaint? Marianne Pettersen Bygdnes, Deputy Director at the State Administrator in Nordland, explains that several factors lead to long processing times. – This is partly due to extra tasks the state administrator has been given in connection with the handling of the corona pandemic and the war in Ukraine, and partly that we have many cases to process. MOVED: Sortland municipality offers that Morris can be moved from Lamarktunet nursing home to Sjøgata housing association. Sofie believes that in practice this is also a nursing home. Photo: Monica White Martinsen / news She adds that the State Administrator has recently had a lot of sick leave which also affects the treatment time. – We work continuously on how to use our resources on efficient case processing, and which cases must be prioritized. The complaint Sofie has sent to the State Administrator is a so-called rights complaint. In 2021, 84 per cent of such complaints were processed within three months in Nordland. – How long it takes to process a case depends on how complex the case is. Some cases will therefore necessarily take longer to process than others, Bygdnes says. Has recruited several employees Morten Juul Sundnes, department director / county doctor at the State Administrator in Nordland, tells news that this year they have dealt with 82% of similar cases within three months. He says steps are being taken to reduce the treatment time. – We have recruited new employees to strengthen our capacity for case processing, but it unfortunately takes time before they are in place and have received the training required to process cases. At the State Administrator in Nordland, it is the same caseworkers who handle complaints who handle incidents in the health and care service, so we must constantly make reallocations and reprioritisations to use the resources we have in the best possible way. He further says that they of course want all cases to be dealt with as quickly as possible, but that they must at the same time ensure that the cases are sufficiently informed and that the professionals who need to assess the various aspects of a given case do so. – We must also follow the guidelines that apply according to the Public Administration Act and according to different supervisors that apply in the various subject areas. The measures that have been initiated will help to improve case processing times with us, but it is difficult for me to set a date when we can count on seeing the full effect of the measures that we have implemented. Not the best solutions Tommy Skar is general secretary of LHL Stroke. He says he has great understanding for the frustration, insecurity and despair Sofie and her family experience as a result of an unresolved situation. – We believe they have so far not been able to find the best solutions for Morris. We perceive that his living situation is about to be characterized as a long-term stay in a nursing home. Tommy Skar, Secretary General of LHL Stroke. Photo: Nils Atle Sundnes / news Sortland municipality has offered that Morris can live in Sjøgata housing association – another care offer. Skar says he has to make a reservation that he does not know all the details about this offer, but that it does not seem like this is good enough either. – Based on the knowledge we have of this offer, it seems that this offer is not sufficient for the needs of Morris. As I see it, it is more a form of housing than it is an offer where you can get rehabilitation and necessary follow-up. Refusing to give up Sofie says she understands that delays can occur, but still she would like their case to be prioritized earlier. – In a case like this, where it concerns rights for both patient and relatives, I think it is worrying that it takes so long. Sofie says that her daughter Dahlia is increasingly expressing that she wants to see more of her father. As the situation is today, it is difficult to achieve. Photo: Monica White Martinsen / news She is unsure how long she can continue to stand in it. – It is 2.5 years since I said goodbye to Morris at the bus terminal, before he returned to Uganda. In recent months, many have made me feel confident that I have done what I can for Morris, and that I should start looking ahead for my and Dahlia’s part. After so much adversity and lack of goodwill from the municipality, I now strive to see how my relationship with Morris will work in the long run. But giving up on Morris is out of the question. – It is probably a reality that I have to move on at some point. But that does not mean I do not want to be by Morris’ side, and make sure he’s well.
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Long waiting time for complaints to the State Administrator – in the worst case almost a year – news Nordland
