Nursing staff working for the Helsinki University Hospital District (HUS) have criticised the provision of coronavirus vaccines to doctors ahead of other healthcare staff in the district.
According to shop steward Katri Ahola, tensions at the HUS’s Töölö hospital in Helsinki are at "boiling point" as healthcare staff are outraged by the decision to prioritise doctors.
"It is completely contrary to equality, that individuals and professional groups can bypass the vaccination queue. It has been systematic and extensive," said Ahola, who also works as a nurse in the neurosurgical intensive care unit.
Ahola added that at the Töölö facility, even doctors working in fields such as plastic surgery, orthopaedics and neurosurgery have received the vaccine. They do not necessarily treat coronavirus patients, she pointed out, and the privilege enjoyed by doctors has annoyed other members of staff as they are concerned about their own occupational safety.
For example, patients arriving at Ahola’s neurosurgical ward may be infected with the virus, but only neurosurgeons have so far been vaccinated.
"The medical staff are next to the patient 24/7, compared to doctors. This feels really unfair. If the value of HUS is equality, does it only apply to patients and the staff are completely forgotten," she said.
Ahola added that in her capacity as a shop steward, she has contacted "all possible parties", including HUS branch managers, in relation to the matter. She considers the situation unfair, as doctors' consultations with patients only take a short time compared to the work of nurses.
HUS: Vaccination process in line with THL guidelines
HUS's Chief Medical Officer Markku Mäkijärvi told Yle that doctors in specialised fields have been vaccinated because when they are on call, they also examine patients who may be infected.
This is in line with health agency THL's guidelines on the vaccination of healthcare staff, Mäkijärvi said.
Ahola said she was already disappointed with HUS's actions regarding payments to healthcare staff dealing with coronavirus patients.
"It is really unfortunate to note that a similar unequal practice continues with vaccines. No one should be placed in a higher position just because they are a doctor," she said.