The Inspectorate for Healthcare and Care, IVO, has investigated how the quality and safety work for patients cared for in the wrong department works at 23 hospitals in the country.

One of the hospitals included in the study is the Blekinge Hospital and at the supervision, conducted last year, IVO deficiencies were discovered.

- There were shortcomings in the hospital. Among other things, there is no specific documented follow-up, evaluation or self-control regarding localized patients, says Anna Börjesson, inspector at the Inspection for Health and Care.

Have taken action

In interviews with staff it was also revealed that there are shortcomings in patient safety.

- There is no competence in the department that receives the relocated patient. Sometimes there are no specific drugs for the patient, there are late rounds and there is poor medical continuity which in itself can mean a delayed diagnosis and investigation for the patient, says Anna Börjesson.

Blekinge Hospital has now started to work to rectify the shortcomings that IVO has pointed out.

- The big shortcoming that was pointed out was that you cannot link health injuries that have occurred to newly-displaced patients, and we have taken measures that now make it easier for us to do so in the future, says Peter Janson, chief medical officer at Blekinge Hospital.