There is a great shortage of X-ray nurses in the whole of Norrbotten and the worst situation is in Gällivare and Sunderbyn.
Therefore, it is also difficult to staff MRI cameras and computed tomography.
"Staff flight has begun"
Maria Almqvist, X-ray nurse in Kalix and active in the Healthcare Association, believes that many go to higher-paying jobs with a better working environment.
- The flight of staff has already begun and many have also reduced their working hours to be able to continue working.
This includes the poor working environment.
At four out of five hospitals in the county, the X-ray nurses are on standby.
They are scheduled in addition to regular working hours and it wears them down immensely.
According to the Swedish Medical Association, the monthly salary for an X-ray nurse in Norrbotten is also SEK 3,000 to 4,000 lower than the national average.
- It also contributes to it being so difficult to recruit in Norrbotten, says Almqvist.
"Patients get sicker"
The flight of staff also hits patients hard in the form of long queues for X-rays because the machines cannot be manned and stand still.
- What you see is that patients become sicker.
Cancer diagnoses are discovered much later and operations can be postponed.
It will then be the case that patients end up in longer sick leave, says Maria Almqvist.