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In spring 2020, the Finnmark Hospital medical director sent a report of concern to the county doctor in Finnmark. He feared that two private clinics would over-treat patients they had taken over from Finnmark Hospital through the deadline breach scheme.
– We react to the bills we receive and the scope of treatment that was given, says medical director Harald G. Sunde.
The case is written in collaboration with Dagens Medisin. They were also the first to mention the deadline plan at Finnmark Hospital.
Finnmark Hospital has spent tens of millions on private clinics as they have failed to provide patients with the treatment they are entitled to on time. Photo: Ørn E. Borgen
In two rounds since 2012, Finnmark Hospital was unable to provide its patients with the offer they are entitled to within the prescribed time frame. When that happens, the deadline violation scheme comes into play. You must ensure that patients receive treatment within the established time. So private clinics can often take over the treatment of patients in the hospital.
In 2012, Psykia AS took care of more than 40 patients, while in 2017 the Resource Clinic took care of more than 100 patients. In the nine years, Finnmark Hospital has paid NOK 74 million to the two clinics.
– If a patient has been added to the list of a private individual, they can treat him as much as they want and for as long as they want at our expense, says Finnmark Hospital Medical Director Harald G. Sunde on one of the reasons why the ones that sent a message of concern.
Great gap between the public and the private
Sunde responded that the two individuals gave far more treatments than the national average. In the letter, he writes that the clinics gave between 30 and 50 treatments to each patient. The national average is eleven visits per course of treatment, while the Finnmark Hospital average is nine.
Psychiatrist Leif Roar Falkum believes that it may be the public sector that does not treat patients. Photo: Goran Jorganovich / TV 2
Leif Roar Falkum is a co-owner and psychiatrist at the Resource Clinic. He rejects the accusation of overtreatment.
– With the 100 patients to whom we have been referred, we have an average of 25 consultations per patient. In international psychiatric research, it is actually considered a short-term treatment. So it’s kind of weird to be accused of overtreatment, says Falkum.
Thor Kvakkestad of Psykia AS has declined an interview, but says in a reply to TV 2 that Sunde has nothing to fear because they have not over-treated patients. Psykia AS has only one patient left in treatment through the deadline default scheme at Finnmark Hospital.
Patient list reduced by half
When the Finnmark County doctor proved incompetent, the Nordland State Administrator took over the case. On October 22, the State Administrator announced the supervision; six days earlier, the Resource Clinic dropped from 20 patients to 11.
Falkum says this has no connection.
– We have regularly informed Helfo about the prospects of the treatments we give to patients. On October 15, we reported that we were reducing to ten patients by the end of the year. We made that forecast before learning that Finnmark Hospital would set up a supervisory case, says Falkum.
TV 2 has also spoken with Nordland County doctor Morten Juul Sundnes, who says they are still investigating the case.
Does not reject subtreatment
Falkum also says that he believes that many patients receive insufficient treatment at the public outpatient clinic.
– I think they are treated badly, rejected too often and receive treatment in the short term. This is what many have problematized.
Sunde was also asked if it is Finnmark Hospital that is treating psychiatric patients.
– I will not say that the mean is correct. But there is a trade-off between access to resources and the influx of patients. For new patients to come in, patients must be dispensed with, Sunde says.
