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– We have little space, so we go around and on top of each other.
This is how Anne Flya describes her workplace.
She is among 26 employees of the Rikshospitalet neonatal intensive care unit who have been quarantined. This weekend it was learned that two people from the department tested positive for coronavirus.
On Friday morning, Flye got the message. She had worked with one of the people. Now she has to get away from work until Thursday.
Anne Flya is among 26 people in the department who have been quarantined.
Photo: Private
On Monday afternoon, the Oslo University Hospital confirmed that 24 nurses and two doctors were quarantined as a result of two people testing positive.
The management of the Oslo University Hospital believes that it is unlikely that the infection occurred at work. Employees NRK has spoken with say the infection may have occurred quickly in the workplace.
– We have very little space, apart from the fact that we work with young children, says the nurse.
Union representative: Probable with infection at work
Cathrine Aass, who is a shop steward in the department, believes that it is not possible to maintain a distance of one meter.
– It does not work when working on an incubator. There are narrow rooms and not everyone always wears a mask, she says, adding:
– I think a nurse is very likely to get infected at work.
Non-conformity report sent
– It is very tight with us and we operate so high over capacity that we cannot meet the meter. Even with just one child in a corner or outdoor space, we often work closely together, says Christina Malene Øvren.
She is studying to become an intensive care nurse and is a ward intern. With parents, doctors and specialists from other departments, space is shrinking quickly, he says.
– We had an episode last week where I counted up to 15 pieces with the child I was responsible for.
She says that the specialists in the other departments did not wear masks and that they all worked very closely.
After the incident, he submitted a non-compliance report.
It highlights that the 15 people who were present on the day in question are not among those infected or in quarantine.
But it is not fortunate that the areas are so small that we are forced to work so closely, he adds.
Patient advocate: reinforce our concern
Anne-Lise Kristensen, an advocate for patients and users in Oslo and Akershus, thinks it is very sad that there is an infection in the room. She had previously asked the county governor to consider overseeing the Rikshospitalet neonatal intensive care unit, due to the unsustainable conditions in the area.
– This only reinforces our concern. At the same time, it is natural to ask what management has done to find alternative solutions, when facilities are known to be too tight under normal conditions, Kristensen tells NRK.
– Challenging
Professor Terje Rootwelt acknowledges that infection control in inadequate challenging facilities is a challenge.
Photo: Ketil Kern / NRK
Clinic director and professor Terje Rootwelt from the Department of Children and Adolescents at Oslo University Hospital confirms that the hospital has received several reports of non-compliance for the ward area.
– There is no doubt that crowded conditions make it more challenging and place demands on us when we must observe infection control rules, Rootwelt tells NRK.
He notes that the department has implemented a series of measures to reduce the possibility of infection. Among other things, employees are divided into groups, have separate group rooms and bathrooms. At the same time, the clinic manager recognizes that it is challenging.
