High sick leave among social secretaries in Kramfors - want to see extended corona testing

Just over 30 per cent of the social secretaries in individual and family care in Kramfors are currently absent due to illness.

- Many have been home for 2-3 weeks and some are in their fourth week, says Carina Eriksson, Head of Department for Individual and Family Care.

Several of the staff have turned to health care and wanted to test for covid-19, but received no.

- Unfortunately, my staff does not belong to a selected group. If we were to test some, they might be able to return to work faster, just like in healthcare, says Carina Eriksson.

According to Region Västernorrland, there is currently no capacity to test more occupational groups.

"Of socially important activities, in addition to health and care personnel, it is currently dental care personnel that we have the opportunity to test," says infection control physician Hans Boman.

- Due to the fact that testing in healthcare and elderly care will be expanded in connection with infection tracking, we do not have the capacity to offer other categories of testing.

For individual and family care in Kramfors, the high absence due to illness means a high pressure on the remaining staff and that they are forced to prioritize, with longer treatment and waiting times as a result in certain parts of the business.

- What we absolutely have to prioritize is, for example, notifications of children who are doing poorly, says Carina Eriksson.