"It has been a very tough summer, worse than before," says Åsa Holgersson, who is the chairman of the Västernorrland Health Care Association and the head of the safety department.

She says that it was tough also at Sollefteå hospital and Örnsköldsvik, but that it was the worst at the county hospital in Sundsvall. The background is a reduction in the number of care places and the merging of certain departments.

"May tear life out of it"

But patients continue to flow, even during the holiday season. The overcrowding is on the staff.

- Many have worked extra-pass and double-pass and postponed their holidays, and the relays are increasing again. You have to tear your life out and the majority have cried because of the heavy workload, says Åsa Holgersson.

Patients in the bathroom and dining room

She tells of members who resigned because of the situation. There has been severe pressure on many clinics, including emergency care. The most overcrowding has been in the medicine clinic, geriatrics and cardiologist. The stroke department has also been very tough and the problems still remain today, she says.

- There are eleven overcovers today (Monday) on the strip. For example, there are three patients in the corridor, one in a treatment room, one in the bathroom and one sitting patient in the dining room of the ward.

Going in the wrong direction

She is frustrated by the situation and expects greater efforts from the employer, both officials and politicians, to be able to recruit and improve the situation. Both in terms of salary, education and workload.

- The employer and politicians talk about the importance of the work environment and that they try to recruit. But we do not see that happening, it is far too slow.