Despite an increase in operating income on several items in the accounts, University Hospital Nord-Norge HF is steering towards a heavy deficit in 2023. Last month, the situation went from bad to worse for an already blood-red account. “The economic result in October is a sharp deterioration compared to previous periods. The forecast that was estimated last month will now be difficult to achieve,” says the document that will be presented at the board meeting in Narvik on Tuesday. At the same time, there is a sharp increase in deadline breaches within the Mental Health and Addiction Clinic (PHRK). Something that costs the hospital dearly. Doubling Since December 2019, PHRK has had a negative development in waiting time and the number of deadline breaches. A number of measures have not been enough to reduce waiting times and avoid deadlines being missed. In 2022, missing the deadline generated a cost for the hospital of NOK 52.5 million. This year, the sum is expected to approach NOK 100 million. – It is clear that there is 100 million that we could potentially have used to improve the offer in our own clinic and hospital, instead of paying to private actors through HELFO, says clinic manager at the Mental Health and Addiction Clinic at UNN, Eirik Stellander. Clinic manager at the Mental Health and Addiction Clinic at UNN, Eirik Stellander. Photo: Eirik Hind Sveen / news In October alone, there is a total budget deviation for missed deadlines and costs for visiting patients of NOK 19.8 million. The CEO of the University Hospital of Northern Norway, Anita Schumacher, describes the budget overrun as being far higher than what they had been able to predict. – The most serious thing about this is the capacity challenges we are struggling with, that we are actually unable to offer an appointment to the patients who we ourselves have assessed as needing it within a deadline. – In addition to the fact that it presents us with financial challenges, it is obviously a challenge for those patients who do not get access, and for us who are unable to offer this, says Schumacher, CEO of the University Hospital of Northern Norway, Anita Schumacher. Photo: Dan Henrik Klausen / news Analysis Eirik Stellander says it is difficult to answer why the development has been the way it has been in recent years, but says their best analysis is that it is linked to three things: High turnover among therapists at the outpatient clinic – many processing progress is redistributed instead of completed. High sickness absence. Increased attendance at some of the clinic’s outpatient clinics, especially in Tromsø and Harstad. The clinic manager points out that they work actively to look at the possibility of providing good and more effective treatment. In the Debate on NRK1 last Thursday, the proposed hospital changes in Northern Norway were discussed. There, Health Minister Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap) made it clear that neither she nor the government will stop the ongoing process. At the same time, Center Party leaders believe that the case could lead to a government crisis. Doctors fear closures: – I have no intention of stopping the process Millions of dollars for the private sector Buying private health services costs the hospital dearly. So far this year, UNN has spent NOK 129.5 million, which is NOK 73.9 million more than budgeted. In October alone, the budget gap is close to 250 per cent. Managing director Anita Schumacher says they see a connection with the fact that there will be greater financial challenges with the capacity challenges they have. – As the situation is right now, we cannot manage without others to help us take these patients away. What we really want is to get into a situation where we are more robust, where we can handle these patients ourselves in a better way, she says, and believes this is about staffing and finances. Deviation of 600 per cent In summary, the accounts show a negative operating result in October alone of NOK 25.8 million, which is over NOK 30 million less than budgeted. Or 600 percent. So far this year, the operating profit is minus 57.8 million, which is 106.8 million less than budgeted. Schumacher points out that Helse Nord is in a larger process related to the division of functions and tasks. – I expect that these processes will improve the staffing situation for us at UNN in the long term. – Are there any immediate measures that will come from which you can get quick results? – I can’t see that there are any immediate quick results to track in the current Helse Nord process. I can’t see that.
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– We cannot manage without private broadcasters – news Troms and Finnmark
