Parliamentary decision on the maternity ward in Kristiansund may be set aside – NRK Norway – Summary of news from different parts of the country

Nordmøre pregnant women do not have to go to Molde to give birth, but will have to use the maternity ward at Kristiansund hospital for four more years, until the new joint hospital is ready. The majority voted in the Storting today. There has been a fight in the local community so that the farthest born do not have to travel for several hours until birth.

Now Ap, Frp, Sp, SV, Red and MDG stood up and voted in favor of a proposal to keep the maternity ward of the new hospital running. Together these parties have a majority in the Storting.

Health Minister Bent Høie (H) says that the parliamentary majority to preserve the maternity ward does not mean that the matter has been resolved.

– I would like to emphasize that Storting cannot deprive the local administration of its responsibility to justify any offer at all times. And the Storting doesn’t have a chance to review, he said in the Storting debate Tuesday.

Will not create pressure

Frp health policy spokesman Åshild Bruun-Gundersen asked if this means the Storting’s decision is not necessarily followed. Høge assured him that he will, but reiterated that a parliamentary decision cannot review the local health authorities.

“I am very interested in emphasizing this, so that we do not create pressure on health service leaders to maintain services that they consider unjustifiable, because it can have quite dramatic consequences for patients,” Høie said.

Stop must go on

Bruun-Gundersen reacts strongly to the statements of the Minister of Health.

– The Minister of Health cannot skip Parliament, he tells NRK.

She believes it is Høie’s responsibility to follow up on the Storting decision and ensure that the quality of the maternity ward in Kristiansund is good.

– High must accept that he doesn’t always get his will.

Ap also responds and expects the decision to be followed.

“It is the professional leadership of the health authority that makes the defense decision,” says the party’s health policy spokesperson, Ingvild Kjerkol.

“We look forward to working to secure service in Kristiansund until a new joint hospital opens,” he adds.

High absence of disease

Møre and Romsdal Health Board President Ingve Theodorsen says that to maintain the delivery department in Kristiansund, there must be a solid professional operation.

– We will follow the decision, provided it is justifiable for all the natives in Nordmøre and Romsdal and that there are strong working conditions for the employees, says Theodorsen.

During the board meeting this week, the operational situation in the food departments in Molde and Kristiansund was described as difficult. There is a high absence of disease and a shortage of gynecologists. Sometimes the maternity wards in Molde and Kristiansund alternated to remain open on the weekends.

Last year, the health authorities decided to merge the two maternity wards, but there were so many protests from the natives, the Bunadsgeriljaen and the mayors of Nordmøre that the merger was postponed.

On June 10, the Board of Directors of Helse Møre and Romsdal will re-examine the matter.