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Since March it has a
Specially rebuilt Widerøe Dash 8 aircraft on standby 24 hours a day to transport corona patients
on behalf of Helse Nord.
The plane can carry two patients in an infection control incubator at the same time and land at all the airports that Widerøe serves.
In the course of eight months, the aircraft has only been used six times. So far, it has cost the public sector NOK 44.7 million, according to figures compiled by Dagens Medisin.
They have mapped the aircraft’s emergency preparedness costs, including flight time and exercises in the period from March 2020 to October 2020.
The company’s shop steward, Johnny Jensen of the Norwegian Nurses Association, says the use of the money is reckless.
Photo: Dina Storvik / NRK
The use of money provokes strong reactions from the Norwegian Nurses Association.
– It’s an incredible amount of money for so little use. They may be able to defend such an irrational use of money in this situation, but they have made it very clear in the organization, union steward Johnny Jensen tells NRK.
– Appears as a prestigious project
The Norwegian Nurses Association has sent a letter to Helse Nord. Here they ask, among other things, if it is justified to maintain the so-called contagion plane.
– It is very timely that you respond if you still believe that it is convenient to leave this with so little use. We look forward to receiving a response at the board meeting in December, says Jensen.
– What do you think of these numbers?
– In this case, it appears as a prestigious project that must be maintained at all costs.
Regional leader Lena Røsæg Olsen in NSF Troms and Finnmark also supports the criticism.
Lena Røsæg Olsen is county leader in NSF Troms and Finnmark.
Photo: Private
– We completely agree that it was correct to create the plane, but now we have to consider whether it is the correct use of funds in society, seen also in the light of the situation of personnel in hospitals, otherwise, he tells NRK.
Defend the use of money
Helse Nord Director Cecilie Daae Says
Dagens Medisin that the aircraft and incubators should be considered as part of the total corona preparation
.
She elaborates to NRK:
– This means that this resource was acquired in spring, in a confusing situation. Where we have planned it based on the worst case scenario. Having a resource that can alleviate ordinary air ambulance service has been an important factor, Daae tells NRK.
Helse Nord director Cecilie Daae says the contagion plane has been important in the overall preparation. Still, it does not rule out that the plane becomes redundant.
Photo: Bente H Johansen / NRK
The director believes that the contagion plane has been an important resource in general emergency preparedness, but it is clear that they are continually assessing whether a need still exists.
If the need disappears, it will be eliminated.
– We evaluate this monthly. It can happen quickly, or we can spend a little more time making sure we are not affected both domestically and in our region as we have prepared.
