– We are particularly concerned about the consequences for small premature children, who need maximum rest in the first weeks, says union representative Sverre Medbø. Two years ago, Norway received the first of a total of 16 new rescue helicopters. Because they are large and create such strong winds, they can hardly land at any hospitals. Nor at Ullevål. That’s how strong the wind is: Here the new helicopter test lands at St. Olav’s hospital in Trondheim. That is why Oslo University Hospital (OUS) wants them to land at Rikshospitalet. Now they have applied to build a new platform for the new helicopters close to the neonatal intensive care unit. The new platform will not mean increased traffic, according to the application. It estimates that the new helicopter will land about as often as the old one – approx. 35 times a year. Those figures are completely wrong, according to union representatives. Will fly everything to Riksen For the hospital will now drop the landing site for the new helicopters at Ullevål, it appears in board papers for Health South-East. Thus, they must be routed to Rikshospitalet instead, with few exceptions. This will greatly increase helicopter traffic to the new platform. Because today, Ullevål receives two-thirds of the rescue helicopters that land in Oslo. More helicopters landing and taking off mean more noise for the babies in the neonatal ward. – That makes our concern far greater, says Medbø. Sverre Medbø is senior physician at the neonatal intensive care unit at Rikshospitalet. There, they are worried about a lot of noise from the helicopters. Photo: Anette Holth Hansen / news The hospital does not wish to comment on the case and the union representatives’ concerns. 200 landings annually The real number of landings is closer to 200 a year, believes Erik Høiskar, representative of the Norwegian Medical Association. – And I would say that is a cautious estimate. Høiskar points to several reasons why the figure in the application is far too low: The number of rescue missions increases every year. No other hospital in Eastern Norway can accept the new rescue helicopters. This will probably mean that more people who are now flown to other hospitals will be transported to Oslo with the new helicopters. Because the new helicopters are faster, technologically better and can operate in almost any weather, the number of missions increases. For example, the rescue service in Ørland has around 40 per cent more missions after they got a new helicopter. In the rescue service’s own forecast, which news has gained access to, they expect around 250 trips to the Oslo hospitals annually when the new helicopters arrive. Most of them will therefore probably go to Rikshospitalet, until the new hospitals in Oslo with their own platforms are ready in 2031. Can stop the plans – It is a big problem if this delays the construction of a landing pad, says Høiskar. Because when the figures on the number of landings in the application are wrong, assessments around noise must be made again, among other things. Erik Høiskar has long been concerned that Oslo is unable to receive Norway’s new super helicopters. Photo: Jenny Dahl Bakken / news In the worst case scenario, Norway’s largest hospital will still not be able to receive the new helicopters in a year’s time. At that time, Eastern Norway’s rescue center at Rygge in Østfold will put one of the new helicopters into use. – Lives can be lost Both Høiskar and the rescue service warn of the consequences. Without a landing place, the helicopters have to land so far away from the hospitals that the patients have to be reloaded and driven to the hospital. Then they can get to the hospital around half an hour later than if the helicopters could fly straight there. – Which means that lives can be lost, says Høiskar. news has given Oslo University Hospital the opportunity to comment on the criticism from the trustees, and the figures they present. They say much is still uncertain and will not comment on the matter now. Hello! Do you have any thoughts about the case you have read? Or more tips about rescue helicopters, facilitation at school, crime or mental health? Perhaps about something completely different from Greater Oslo that should be taken care of? Feel free to get in touch!
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Want all the rescue helicopters to go to Rikshospitalet – shop stewards are worried – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
