The special care centres of the Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District provide services to well over 700,000 people. Over the past few days, negotiations on savings measures have gone through the operations of its clinics one by one. Seven million euros in costs must be trimmed from this year's budget. There is talk of staff layoffs and of closing some wards. Management wants to restructure operations. The Board of Directors will decide where and how the cuts will be made on Monday.
Local governments are no longer willing to pay make up budget deficits in specialised medical care services. The toughest situation is being faced by the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), where operational costs have already pushed the budget 35 million euros into the red.
HUS is trying to find a solution in more centralization of services.
A significant share of the nationwide problem springs from higher prices for medications and other care supplies. This means, that for example in Oulu, an even closer look is being given at the need for angioplasties and pacemakers. Planned equipment purchases are being reviewed with an eye to meet care criteria, but to eliminate "extras".
Many hospitals will be reopening wards next week that were closed for the summer months. New closures, as a cost savings measure, are being planned, for example during autumn school holiday. And, over the Christmas holidays this year, no hospital will be providing specialised care for any but seriously ill patients.