Recently, the State Administrator in Trøndelag sent a report on his own initiative that clarifies the consequences of the GP crisis to the Ministry of Health and Care Services. The report sounds an alarm.
“The state administrator sees that the GP crisis with a lack of GP services leads to an increased probability of reduced patient safety and unjustified treatment, and that patient rights are not safeguarded,” concludes the report sent on 23 May, which Dagbladet has had access to.
– We have now given the ministry a status report on its own initiative because we experience the situation related to the GP scheme in Trøndelag as so critical. We will assist in implementing key guidelines, but we also have a duty to report upwards when we feel that there is a need for it, and we did so now.
This is what assistant county doctor Kristine Asmervik, who has written the report together with county doctor Jan Vaage, tells Dagbladet.
– Unjustified treatment and reduced patient safety as a result of a GP crisis is very serious, which is why we have chosen to submit this report.
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Bønnfaller Kjerkol
The state administrator begs the Ministry of Health and the Minister of Health and Care Services Ingvild Kjerkol (Labor Party) to implement effective measures soon to stabilize and recruit for the GP scheme.
«In this situation, the state administrator’s supervision and follow-up of the municipalities has a limited effect. We are writing the report to give the ministry an understanding of the consequences of the GP crisis in our county and hope this can contribute to the necessary national measures being taken to stabilize the scheme “, the report states.
– We can give advice, guide and supervise. But when we now experience that we can do nothing more to remedy the crisis, we must give notice that the GP crisis must be resolved at the national level, says assistant county doctor Asmervik.
– How urgent is it that the Ministry of Health implements the necessary national measures?
– It’s urgent.
The price of the pandemic: – Never rests
Stjørdal under supervision
The report warns of challenges related to staffing, working conditions and patient safety in a number of municipalities. The state administrator states that they have been sent reports and complaints that give rise to great concern for patient safety, and have been unsure of how well the municipalities have followed this up.
As a result, they have started supervision of the GP scheme in the municipalities of Trondheim, Steinkjer, Meråker and Stjørdal. The latter is Minister of Health Kjerkol’s own home municipality.
– The situation in Stjørdal is something my party colleagues in Stjørdal have been concerned about, I have also had contact with resigned mayor Ivar (Vigdenes journ.anm.). The municipalities are trying to do what other municipalities have done, namely a fine on a scheme that must be updated and financed, Kjerkol tells Dagbladet and continues:
– The GP scheme was introduced in 2001 to ensure continuity and better services for the individual citizen. I understand that it is perceived as demanding to be without a GP for a long time. Not least for those who need frequent follow-up.
Pandemic price: – Screaming shortage
– Serious situation
Kjerkol promises that the general practitioner service is one of her highest priority tasks. Furthermore, she says that she is very concerned that Norway will be able to reverse today’s development.
– There is increasing concern about the GP scheme from municipalities, patient ombudsmen, state administrators and the Norwegian Board of Health. We are in a serious situation for the GP scheme. I take that very seriously. I therefore want to take action to ensure good general practitioner services throughout the country with a sustainable GP scheme.
Kjerkol believes that the GP crisis is a complex problem that she cannot easily solve in a revised budget.
– I will build on the measures in the action plan for the general practitioner service on which there is great agreement. But it is necessary to look at even more powerful instruments when we are to adjust and strengthen the measures in the plan.
HEALTH DIRECTOR: Bjørn Guldvog in the Norwegian Directorate of Health. Photo: Kristian Ridder-Nielsen / Dagbladet
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Crushing report
More than 150,000 people in Norway are now on the list without a permanent doctor, which the Norwegian Board of Health considers serious. On Thursday, they delivered a crushing rapport after reviewing recent supervisory experiences regarding general medical services and emergency services in the municipalities.
“Overall, the review shows that the GP scheme is under pressure throughout the country. The municipalities’ ability and opportunities to deliver sound general medical services have been put on hold “, the Norwegian Board of Health sums up.
Furthermore, they list a number of examples of failures in health care that have already occurred, and write the following:
“In the Norwegian Board of Health’s assessment, this is an ongoing risk and given the development we are seeing, there is reason to assume that a similar failure will occur again.”
– I think it is both good and important that they have made this report, which makes visible the consequences of the GP crisis, comments assistant county doctor Asmervik.
Guldvog is worried
Health director Bjørn Guldvog tells Dagbladet that the status report from Trøndelag provides important feedback for central health authorities. Guldvog also refers to the recent report from the Norwegian Board of Health.
– We are concerned about the current GP scheme and especially for the vulnerable patients who are completely dependent on a solid scheme that works, Guldvog says to Dagbladet.
– The Norwegian Directorate of Health is now working on how we can make the current GP scheme more robust and attractive, so that more young doctors also choose the GP profession and that the experienced GPs remain in the scheme.
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