Last week it became known that the maternity ward at Stokmarknes will be “downgraded” to a delivery room at night. On Tuesday afternoon, Nordlandssykehuset stated that the maternity ward will be back in place during the next week. But the bioengineers do far more than contribute in connection with births. Now the doctors in Vesterålen and Lofoten fear for the safety of other patients. – This is frightening for my patients. It is frightening for the whole society, says GP Johannes Stenberg to news. He believes Nordlandssykehuset should have done far more to get the situation in order. The bioengineers analyze blood samples in connection with a large number of patients. According to the union, they are involved in two out of three decisions in a hospital. Photo: Heiko Junge / Heiko Junge Going above and beyond Rita von der Fehr, chairman of the union board at Nito, told news on Monday that the cut at Stokmarknes is probably just the beginning. According to her, far more people can notice that there is a shortage of bioengineers. Rita von der Fehr says the lack of bioengineers will probably affect more people than Stokmarknes hospital. Photo: Svein A. Liljebakk / The bioengineer She is supported by the GP Stenberg at Melbu. – This goes beyond a whole range of what a hospital can offer in terms of emergency care, he says to news. If a patient is admitted after 10 o’clock in the evening and it is not possible to carry out analyses. It will have consequences. – Without analyses, we don’t get the same decision-making basis to be able to provide the right health care, he explains and adds: – Then the samples have to be sent on to Bodø, which causes a delay. Without bioengineers in small hospitals in the districts, either the samples or the patients must be transported to Bodø in order to obtain a proper decision-making basis. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news Fears for old patients who have to be transported But it is not only the blood samples that may have to be moved. – In particular, it will be able to go beyond the treatment of chronically ill, old, weak people whom we care for at home in our own homes. There we depend on close and close cooperation with the hospital, says Stenberg. He emphasizes: – We would prefer to avoid flying them to Bodø or somewhere else. It is very stressful for them. STOKMARKNES: Without the possibility of analyzing samples, either the samples or patients must be flown to other hospitals in Nordland. Photo: Frida Brembo / news – How would you characterize the situation? – It is critical. We lose the hospital overnight. The hospital we depend on, and the hospital we work with. I am young and healthy, but I am a GP for many who are not, the GP replies and adds: – I can understand that the patients are very scared. MUCH FURTHER: The hospital at Stokmarknes is located close to Melbu, where Stenberg is a GP. If that hospital cannot analyze samples, the samples must be sent to Bodø. I am very sorry. Tonje Hansen is the specialist director at Nordlandssykehuset. She emphasizes that other personnel at Stokmarknes are on duty around the clock and have the opportunity to carry out the most critical blood tests on analytical equipment close to the patient. – This means that necessary assessments are made continuously for the individual patient, also in acute conditions. Department director at Nordlandssykehuset, Tonje Hansen. Photo: Kåre Riibe Ramskjell / news When asked that this could potentially affect old sick patients who have to be flown to Bodø or Tromsø, the director replies: – We understand that the situation can cause concern among GPs and the public, and apologize for that strongest. Hansen says that there is still medical and surgical emergency preparedness. The laboratory operates normally until ten o’clock in the evening. – The lack of a guard for the laboratory at night and the local blood bank means that some patients can be transferred to other hospitals in case of emergency conditions. Work is ongoing to resolve the situation. Working diligently to find solutions – The doctor believes Nordlandssykehuset should have worked on structure and planning earlier. What do you think about it? – The situation with challenges in recruiting bioengineers has been a concern for a long time. Work has been going on for a long time to stabilize the situation in Vesterålen, Hansen replies and adds: – Bioengineers from Bodø and Lofoten have for several months contributed to running the laboratory in Vesterålen. This will also be done in the future. Recruitment measures in Vesterålen Subject director at Nordlandssykehuset, Tonje Hansen, says bioengineers from other laboratories in the region contributed in Vesterålen. However, staffing challenges elsewhere have reduced this possibility. Work is now continuing to recruit from other regions to Vesterålen. – Efforts are being made to resolve the situation both in the short and long term. We have taken many measures and are continuously working to find good solutions. She adds: – Among other things, we have established a scholarship scheme for bioengineering students, as well as stabilization and recruitment supplements in Vesterålen to keep the bioengineers we have, and to recruit new ones. There are bioengineers from Lofoten and Bodø on the move, and the temp agency has been contacted to help get temps. Through Helse Nord RHF, we are also in contact with laboratories at other companies in other health regions with a request if they can contribute. – What does Nordlandssykehuset think about patients being scared and unsafe? – We understand that patients may experience the situation as unsafe. We are very sorry for that, Hansen replies and clarifies that it is important that unfounded fears are not spread: – Nordlandssykehuset Vesterålen still has medical and surgical emergency preparedness. Lack of a night-time watch for the laboratory and local blood bank can mean that some patients can be transferred to other hospitals in case of emergency conditions. Work is ongoing to resolve the situation. ALSO READ:
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The GPs call for caution – they fear it will affect the patients – news Nordland
