– Had we still had substitutes. This is what Ingrid Berg Selfjord, chief shop steward for the nurses’ association in Trondheim municipality, says. She says they get described that there are simply not enough people to deploy. – And to an even lesser extent, there are professionals to deploy, so we have been told that entire nursing homes are without a single nurse on a good number of shifts. The various units have given her feedback that the staffing for the summer is worse than last year, which in turn was worse than the year before. – So we are very worried about the coming summer, Selfjord says. Chief shop steward Ingrid Berg Selfjord is very worried about the coming summer. Photo: Kari Sørbø / news – How has it been like that? – We have obviously not been able to recruit enough health personnel over time. In addition, there are many who are leaving the service at the moment, she states. – They are very tired after a pandemic, and they are very tired of being in a work situation that is extremely demanding. In addition, they receive a lot of feedback that the reorganization of the new medical record system Helseplattformen is demanding. Potentially dangerous situation Selfjord points out that it is common to experience start-up difficulties when introducing such a large service. But she believes this is a service that does not withstand start-up difficulties and that operations are put on hold. – A municipal health service can never do that. So here we are completely dependent on the fact that we have the capacity to take away from the assignments that are always there. She thinks the system is immature. When there is also a shortage of nurses and professionals, it becomes demanding. – It is potentially a dangerous situation where we are not able to handle health care for the municipality’s residents in a proper way. Anne Grethe Kristiansen is a nurse at Øya health center. She too is restless. – I experience that we have marginal competence and staffing. And we have a system that no one can properly, she says. Anne Grethe Kristiansen, a nurse at Øya health center, shares the concerns of the main shop steward. Photo: Kari Sørbø / news Kristiansen adds that those who have received training in the new Health Platform are far from trained. She is worried about how it will go when brand new substitutes and newly trained nurses will learn the system. – I think we can have quite big challenges eventually, and we must expect more sick leave in the future, she says and adds: – I am afraid this may simply collapse a bit. Confirms the concerns On Tuesday, the presidency in Trondheim was briefed. Health and Welfare Director Wenche Dehli confirms that the staffing situation is perceived as challenging by the units, and that the picture is somewhat worse compared to last year. Health and Welfare Director Wenche Dehli tells news that the municipality may have to reduce the quality of services this summer. Photo: Morten Andersen / news Approximately eight out of ten units experience that it is challenging to cover the staffing needs of nurses, social workers and health professionals. Almost four out of ten find it problematic to get proper nurse coverage. One third expect to have guards without a nurse present or available. – There is marginal staffing on most of the services we have, and it is a bit unexpected after two years of pandemic, where there were probable explanations for why it was minimal, says Dehli. As for the summer, she thinks the municipality may have to reduce the quality of services. – So that there will be a minimum level of what we can offer in periods, but we will come back to that if it becomes relevant. She adds that she fully understands that two years of heavy workload and a third summer of staffing challenges have taken on for the employees. No “quick fix” Sissel Trønsdal (Labor Party) is the leader of the Health and Elderly Committee in Trondheim. She is not surprised by the staffing situation. – We know that access is critical. It is about social workers, nurses and health professionals, she says to news. Sissel Trønsdal (Labor Party) is concerned, but not surprised by the staffing situation. Photo: Morten Andersen / news Trønsdal is concerned because she believes that both home residents and residents of institutions should have equally good care throughout the year. At the same time, it is difficult for her to see other alternatives than going for a minimum solution this summer. – Had there been a “quick fix” on this, we would have arranged it a long time ago. But it’s not just about deploying more people, it’s also about how to organize and use the resources you already have. I think you have to look at whether there is something to be gained, says the politician. She believes one solution could be to offer jobs to retirees. – There are many who have considerable expertise from the older guard, and who have a greater potential to be used towards summer holidays.
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The Norwegian Nurses’ Association is concerned about the shortage of nurses in Trondheim this summer – news Trøndelag
