It has been almost a year since Margareta Eliasson participated in SVT's program "Care and the AI ​​tool".

At the time, she worked as one of the region's chief physicians and had extensive experience of primary care.

As chief physician, her ultimate area of ​​responsibility was Skåne's patient safety. 

- I have worked for almost 40 years in the region.

To feel that you are then not listened to, not asked.

I was not allowed to have any opinions.

It did not feel good at all.

Not good at all, says Margareta Eliasson. 

Now she has retired, earlier than she planned.  

- The consequence was that I actually did not think it was so fun to continue working. 

Report alerted about culture of silence 

After SVT Nyheter Skåne's and Uppdrag review disclosure, Vårdexpressen was stopped.

Region Skåne commissioned an external investigation which, among other things, concluded that there are signs of a culture of silence within the region. 

In the report from June 2020, the consulting firm writes: 

"We recommend Region Skåne to actively work to ensure that different opinions are heard and that criticism is always taken seriously in connection with procurement processes as this can play a significant role in preventing bias and private interests from influencing the process." 

Could not stop Vårdexpressen 

Margareta Eliasson testifies that even managers at health centers did not dare to raise their voices. 

- It seems increasingly strange that they did not listen to any views, questions or criticisms.

On the contrary, we became very quiet.

I was contacted by both medical advisors and business managers who wondered if I could influence this.

But I could not, no one wanted to listen, says Margareta Eliasson.

The region refers to the whistleblower service

Region Skåne's HR director writes in an email to SVT Nyheter Skåne that it is difficult to give a specific comment but that "dialogues should be encouraged" and refers to the region's whistleblower service where you can turn anonymously.

-We obviously want to be perceived as and be an open organization and always take signals when people experience the opposite very seriously, well aware that Region Skåne is a large organization and must constantly work with issues concerning openness and transparency, says Karin Melander, HR Director, Region Skåne.