After carrying out an inspection in April, the State Administrator states that UNN’s follow-up of breast cancer patients at the hospital’s breast diagnostic center has not been sound. This is revealed in a new report published on the Norwegian Health Authority’s website. County doctor in Troms and Finnmark, Anne Grethe Olsen, says they have received messages of concern, and received complaints directly from several patients. – There was a sufficient number for us to be worried, she says to news. The inspection showed that the UNN hospital in Tromsø does not ensure proper patient care for all patients who are referred with questions about breast cancer. The hospital also lacked systems that ensure proper handling of referrals, good cooperation between different units and that the capacity is good enough. In other words, patients where the hospital suspected breast cancer were not followed up well enough. County doctor and Director of Health and Social Affairs Anne Grethe Olsen at the State Administrator in Troms and Finnmark. Photo: Marius Fiskum / The State Administrator in Troms and Finnmark The State Administrator believes the hospital has broken the law on two points: The Specialist Health Services Act section 2-2, which deals with the duty to provide sound health services The Patient and User Rights Act section 2-1b, on the right to necessary health care from the specialist health service Has suffered with the staffing – We expect UNN to follow up on what we have asked of them. They also use to do that, and that is the most important thing, says Olsen. The hospital itself says that they have been aware of the conditions, and are taking the matter seriously. Part of the picture must be that the hospital’s breast diagnostic center has been without a permanently employed breast radiologist since the summer of 2021. – In addition, we have had challenges with the workflow, says clinic manager Käte Myreng. Breast cancer patients did not receive good enough follow-up at UNN, states the State Administrator in a new report. Photo: UNN Kreftforeningen: – Serious – It is clear that this is surprising. One expects, of course, that this is in order. There is a failure both in terms of staffing, interaction and handling of referrals, says Brage Larsen Sollund, district manager of the Cancer Association. He points out that chest radiologists have been in short supply for a number of years throughout Europe. However, that is no excuse, he believes. He believes that steps must be taken to ensure access to the important expertise. Brage Larsen Sollund, district manager of the Cancer Association in Tromsø. Photo: Veronica Turnage / news – It shows how important it is that you build this expertise locally, so that you get this expertise in our region. Larsen also believes that healthcare institutions must do more to prepare for what could become a full-scale crisis in terms of staffing healthcare personnel in the future. – The companies must have a plan for this. It is incredibly important that patients receive the treatment they are entitled to in order to get started. Then you have to build systems as best as possible around this. Jobs with recruitment The hospital has been dependent on hiring temporary workers, and struggled to cover the need during the pandemic. The situation is better today, says clinic manager Myreng. – Those patients with suspected breast cancer are now given an appointment within the seven-day deadline. In addition, we have strengthened the collaboration with a private X-ray institute. – If we receive referrals where we cannot meet the deadline, they will be forwarded to private actors, she assures. Myreng says the hospital is working systematically to recruit more permanent breast radiologists. They are also working to strengthen the routines. – That work should be finished in November. We then have a goal of implementing the measures by the turn of the year.
ttn-69
The Norwegian Health Authority believes UNN broke the law – breast cancer patients did not receive good enough treatment – news Troms and Finnmark
