Emergency care places close in Gävle - "It's serious"

There are 6 out of 22 places at the medical emergency department MAVA which closes in mid-December. The department is normally staffed by 22 nurses, but of these, only six are currently employed by Region Gävleborg, the rest are hired.

- The hired are competent but not as used to the departments and it becomes difficult to pursue the quality we want, says Roger Westerlund, Head of Operations at Region Gävleborg.

Patients who cannot be accommodated will be diverted to other departments. The long-term solution that Roger Westerlund sees is that Region Gävleborg manages to become a more attractive employer. When it comes to doctors, the region has managed to staff MAVA with only permanent staff, but when it comes to nurses it seems to be more difficult.

- We fight with all other actors in public health care in Sweden, which makes it difficult when everyone has a simultaneous shortage.

How serious is the situation?

- It's serious, it's high on our agenda, says Roger Westerlund.