Even before the decision was made to permanently close the emergency geriatrics, several doctors expressed concern about a deterioration in the quality of care.

It was in August last year that the majority in the region decided on cost reductions at Sundsvall's hospital.

The proposal had been drawn up jointly by the departments for medicine, cardiology and GNR (geriatrics, neurology and rehabilitation) and meant, among other things, a closure of the emergency geriatric department.

"Not receiving proper care"

Several doctors warned early.

They saw major concerns with the proposal to close Ward 26A, the emergency geriatric ward.

And now the doctor Elli Masoe connects the problems at the cardiologist with that decision.

- This means today that our geriatric patients do not receive proper care.

Instead, they end up in a specialized cardiology ward.

These are patients who require widespread care.

This means that we get displacement effects where cardiology patients who need to stay with us do not get a place, says Elli Masoe, who is a senior physician at the cardiologist.

"The problems have totally escalated"

In addition to closing the emergency geriatric department, the decision also meant that two care departments were merged into one and that the cardiology department got 30 beds and seven day care beds.

In total, the number of care places at Sundsvall's hospital decreased.

In kroner, this means reduced costs of just under 17 million kroner.

But at the same time, Elli Masoe believes that the situation has worsened.

- I judge that since we implemented this decision, what we saw as a problem has totally escalated.