Increase readiness in three hospitals

Green preparation has been introduced in hospitals in Elverum, Hamar and Gjøvik.

This happens due to capacity issues and high short-term absences. Respiratory infections now dominate in both patients and staff.

– Sick leave is up to 20% in some departments. Many patients have respiratory infections and the increased need for isolation of infected patients leads to a more challenging operating situation. This is why the division chooses to go on standby, says Sykehuset Innlandet division manager Håvard Kydland in a Press release.

TO Hamar Arbeiderblad processes:

– Right now it’s mainly the coronavirus that’s circulating, and then there’s the flu to a slightly lesser extent. In the pediatric ward we expect there to be some cases of RS virus. And then all the other infectious diseases come on top.

He says it makes operations difficult that employees have to isolate certain patients and wear infection control gear.

On Tuesday, the Nord-Trøndelag health company visited out with an appeal to all patients who have contracted a respiratory infection to use a mask.

– The first few days with symptoms have the greatest risk of infection. Patients who are undergoing scheduled care and who have recently contracted a respiratory infection are asked to contact the department they will be visiting in advance, so that a decision can be made whether the scheduled appointment should be used, or whether it should be postponed, they wrote in a press release.

District hospitals currently have a large and growing number of patients admitted with this infection. This is due to both covid-19 and the flu.

On Tuesday, Dagbladet also wrote that several hospitals feel that Christmas and the New Year will be a challenge.

– It is currently very full in our hospitals in Harstad, Narvik and Tromsø due to many people admitted with infectious diseases. In addition, we have major challenges related to the fact that we have many patients ready for discharge who travel to municipalities, the managing director of University Hospital of Northern Norway (UNN), Anita Schumacher, told Dagbladet.

At Stavanger University Hospital, they have also taken emergency preparedness to a green level.