A lack of psychiatrists means that Stavanger University Hospital (SUS) has to close inpatient beds at Sandnes DPS. This is what Helse Stavanger writes in a press release on Wednesday.
In the first instance, this means that the clinic will have to close one of two bed posts from 1 May. This corresponds to 13 beds.
If the clinic does not succeed in finding a lasting solution to deal with the specialist shortage at Sandnes DPS by the end of March, the second bed post will also be closed during the spring of 2023.
– It is a terribly sad situation. I would have liked to see that we had been able to move on. But when we do not have enough specialists, it is unfortunately not advisable to continue the 24-hour service at Sandnes DPS, says clinic manager Sølve Braut.
There have been major recruitment challenges at the Adult Mental Health Care Clinic for a long time. This mainly applies to specialists, both doctors and psychologists. This has meant that operations are very vulnerable at several units.
Not safe to drive on
The clinic for mental health care for adults has implemented several measures in recent years: hiring specialists from a temporary agency, recruited from abroad and appointing doctors in specialization 3 (LIS3) as senior doctors. In addition, the clinic has worked systematically to distribute the specialists in the best possible way.
According to Braut, the lack of specialist expertise is now particularly challenging for Sandnes DPS.
– The challenges have increased recently. Despite the fact that we have carried out a number of measures, we have unfortunately come to the point where, as of today, we cannot operate the bed posts in a proper way, says Braut.
Not about finances
Braut emphasizes that this is not about finances.
– We will try to compensate for the lack of 24-hour service by employing more people in outpatient positions. In addition, we will consider opening more beds at Stavanger DPS, but this will, among other things, require the DPS to be supplied with more LIS doctors or psychologists, he says.
What does this mean for patients?
- Patients who live in the area belonging to Sandnes DPS (Sandnes, Strand and Hjelmeland municipality), and who require admission to a DPS, will still receive this.
- If both beds have to be closed, patients will be offered either at Sola DPS or Stavanger DPS.
- If one of the inpatient units at Sandnes can continue to be operated, the patients will receive help from this inpatient unit. The other DPS will assist as needed.
- This will not affect the number of beds at the hospital posts in Våland, and everyone who needs immediate help will get it.
- Closure of the inpatient unit(s) will not affect the outpatient service at Sandnes DPS, FACT Sandnes, the aftercare clinic (EVP) and the emergency outpatient team.
- The clinic management will have a dialogue with the municipalities and user organizations about the offer going forward.
What does this mean for employees?
- No employees will lose their jobs as a result of the liquidation.
- For many employees, this will mean that they will have changed workplaces, and in some cases also changed work tasks.
- In the future, the clinic management will have a close dialogue with employees, shop stewards and the protection service and follow the company’s restructuring programme.