Alexander was born in week 27 – over 70 miles from home

That Alexander would be born in the 27th week of pregnancy at Norrland University Hospital in Umeå - over 70 miles from the home in Hultsfred in Småland - was not quite what his parents had expected. 

But that's how it happened.

Because when Madeleine Tagel suffered from severe preeclampsia, it turned out to be fully booked in Linköping, the nearest university hospital with the most advanced neonatal care.

And not only there.

- Everywhere was full.

So it ended up that Umeå was the only neonatal hospital in the country, she says.

The ambulance flight they flew with, first from Linköping to Umeå.

And then back to Linköping.

Photo: Private

Despite the circumstances, the family still got off to a good start and are satisfied with the care.

After a few weeks, there was talk that they would eventually be moved to Linköping, but the decision was made much faster than Martin and Madeleine had expected.

Thought "now it's done"

When Alexander was three weeks old, the call came that they would be transported by air ambulance the following day.

Because now there was no more room in the neonatal intensive care unit in Umeå.

- Either he may not be able to make the journey, he may not survive, alternatively he will sustain quite serious injuries.

That's what went through my head.

Now it's simply done.

Fortunately, he still made it through the transport, says Martin Tagel.

When Alexander was born, he weighed just over 600 grams.

Here he is three weeks later, bedridden after flying from Umeå in a transport incubator to be treated at Linköping University Hospital instead.

Photo: Private

SVT has been in contact with Norrland University Hospital, which does not want to appear for an interview about why Alexander needed to be moved so quickly.

The operations manager and the medical director of the neonatal unit instead send an email:

"When necessary, children are transported from one neonatal intensive care unit to another to free up resources to care for other children with intensive care needs.

This type of transport is only carried out if the child is deemed to be able to be transported with a high level of care maintained and without risk to patient safety."

In Aktuellt at 21 tonight, you can see a longer report about the shortage of places in neonatal care, as well as an interview with KI professor Mikael Norman about what it means for the children and what can be done about it.