There are tough fronts and a big conflict around the hospital pharmacy in Bergen, which has 135 employees. – This is the last bottle we have in stock, says pharmacist Gunvor Johnsen. She fears a lack of important medicine for burn victims, the pharmacy at Haukeland in Bergen is one of two pharmacies that produce such in Norway. The big concern is a water plant which they believe is too old, and which has been out of operation over time. The pharmacy needs the equipment to produce sterile medicine. Pharmacist Gunvor Johnsen is head of department at the Hospital Pharmacy in Bergen. Photo: Sissel Rikheim / news news was invited to enter the production premises of the hospital pharmacy in Bergen. But the employees were refused by managing director Jon Bolstad at Sjukehusapoteka Vest to let news in. – It could be good to let the media in and show the important work we do, says Johnsen. A water plant that supplies sterile water has been out of operation for large parts of 2022 and so far in 2023. Photo: The hospital pharmacy in Bergen Closed the doors to the media The employees wanted to show off equipment they believe is in poor condition and out of date. – I really hoped they could come in. It was perceived as crazy to be honest, says the manager of the hospital pharmacy in Bergen Pål Espen Johannessen. He has sent a serious warning about the situation at the pharmacy. There, he fears for his life and health in the extreme. In recent weeks, a personnel case has also been opened against him, which may end in dismissal. Managing director Jon Bolstad explains the closure to the media by saying that the employees need a break from work. He says news may be welcome at a later time. Managing director of Hospital Pharmacy Vest, Jon Bolstad. Photo: Mette Anthun / news Three different notices In the last few weeks, a total of three notices have been sent to, among others, the board of Hospital Pharmacy West about the working conditions at the hospital pharmacy in Bergen. Hospital pharmacist Pål Espen Johannessen believes the company experiences an unsafe working environment, and a significant culture of fear. He believes that the employees are on the verge of unreasonable work pressure, which increases the risk of mistakes. Place trustee for the pharmacists at Sjukehuspoteka, Oddgeir Selaas, has notified. He does not want to go into the details of the notification, but says he has notified via the formal channels. Johannessen’s predecessor, who was in the job until 2020, Roy Rangjord, has also submitted a notice to the board. – Based on what emerges in the media, I can support Johannessen’s portrayal of a poor cooperative climate with management. Something that is also a strong contributory reason why I myself chose to resign from the position, says Rangjord to news. Trustee Oddgeir Selaas tells about a tough time in the workplace. – It is a difficult situation for us who work here. I have a clear expectation that the notification will be taken with the seriousness it deserves in view of all those involved. Photo: Gerd Johanne Braadland Will not comment Last night there was an extraordinary board meeting in Hospital Pharmacy Vest. Chairman of the board Trude Risnes will not go into detail about how the board handles the notification. – We follow current guidelines in the company, which are based on the Working Environment Act. Beyond this, I have no comments. Managing director Jon Bolstad will not comment on the matter further. But communications manager Bernt Flekke refers to figures from the annual “improvement survey” that is carried out throughout Helse Vest. There, the Hospital Pharmacy in Bergen achieves 86 out of 100 points from the employees regarding “it is safe to speak out about objectionable circumstances”. It is higher than the average in the whole of Helse Vest. The extract from the survey Flekke refers to does not provide an answer as to whether there are individual employees who are completely disagreeable. Fear of medicine shortage This week, the Norwegian Medicines Agency came to inspect the Hospital Pharmacy in Bergen. The background was pharmacy manager Johannessen’s report of concern. According to Flekke, the initial feedback is that they found no critical deviations. The Norwegian Medicines Agency will not comment until the inspection report is complete, and say they have not reached a conclusion. Manager of the hospital pharmacy in Bergen Pål Espen Johannessen is one of those who have notified. Photo: Gerd Johanne Braadland – Still have a bottle At the pharmacy, pharmacist Gunvor Johnsen shows off what is the last large bottle of Acetate buffer. A preparation that is used in the wounds of burn victims. – If there is a major accident, it is not certain that there will be enough for everyone. I think it’s hair-raising that we don’t have a water system that works. news has checked with the National Burns Center in Haukeland, which uses the preparation. – We don’t have a good stock in terms of our annual consumption, but this is a preparation that we have an alternative to, says head of department Hans Christian Sylvester-Johnsen. Sylvester-Johnsen has become aware of the situation at the pharmacy via the media. He says they are not worried, and that they have gained experience in procuring alternative equipment at a time of generally great delivery difficulties. – We are therefore quite motivated to do so.
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Three different notices against the tenant at the hospital pharmacy – news Vestland
