The staffing situation ahead of the summer is strained in the maternity wards in Västerbotten.
Midwives are now offered extra compensation if they can imagine working extra shifts during the summer.
- We have high occupancy all year round.
We who are tired are tired of not being able to get our holiday out for four consecutive weeks when we do not have time to unwind, says Karin Järback midwife in Umeå.
The care association is now alerting that the situation is unsustainable, especially during childbirth in Umeå and Lycksele.
The union has prepared a 66th report to the Swedish Work Environment Authority demanding that something be done.
Region: "Sorry for the situation"
The region has responded with proposals for measures and activities to improve the situation.
The region proposes to have a meeting to review the action plan and planned activities.
- It is important to work with the work environment.
Of course, the salary is also an important part where you can think that you have to invest more in the redemptive midwives.
We must find long-term solutions, says Brita Winsa, director of health and medical care.
The region believes that in previous years, midwives from Finland have been able to be recruited to strengthen staffing, but due to the pandemic, it has not been possible to recruit as many.
- I can regret that we are in this situation.
Unfortunately, we have a difficult situation when it comes to staffing midwives, says Brita Winsa.
However, the care association believes that those who are expecting a child do not need to feel any anxiety about giving birth this summer.
- The staff will do everything in their power to ensure as good care as possible.
What happens is that the staff skips their breaks and recovery.
They wear out the staff when they have had to go on for a long time, says Katarina Nilsson Reian, vice chairman of Vårdförbundet Västerbotten.
Hear about the situation in maternity care in the video above.