Kemi, Finland – Staff at Länsi-Pohjan Hospital in Kemi have presented an alternative plan to Lapin hyvinvointialue (Lapland Wellbeing Area) officials, aiming to secure the hospital’s services and generate over one million euros in annual savings. The proposal, unveiled Friday to regional representatives, directly challenges the wellbeing area’s plans to implement changes recommended by a state evaluation group, and comes as the area’s governing board prepares to vote on the hospital’s future next week.
The staff-led proposal centers on streamlining operations and identifying cost efficiencies, including the elimination of weekend surgical procedures. According to Maria Lovén, head of Mehiläinen Länsi-Pohjan health services, the plan would generate savings of 1.24 million euros per year. “The savings would reach, among other things, from reducing intensive care to four beds. Weekend surgery would also be discontinued and concentrated on weekdays, and evenings. Surgical on-call services would also be reduced,” Lovén stated.
The alternative plan also proposes consolidating the post-operative recovery unit with the hospital’s monitoring ward, a move expected to yield significant personnel cost savings. These savings are crucial, staff argue, as the state evaluation group’s proposals would actually increase costs by 610,000 euros annually.
The debate over Länsi-Pohjan Hospital’s future comes after a February decision by the Lapin hyvinvointialue regional council to return the proposed service cuts for further preparation. The council requested clarification on previous cost calculations, signaling a reluctance to accept the initial recommendations. Lapin hyvinvointialue, responsible for public social and health services and rescue services in Lapland, is now facing mounting pressure to balance budgetary constraints with the need to maintain essential healthcare access for residents.
Anu Toikka, chief physician of neurology at Länsi-Pohjan Hospital, explained the impetus for the staff-led initiative. “We wanted to do our own calculations on this matter because We see a very important issue for the future of the hospital’s specialized medical care,” she said. The presentation to regional council members, attended by nearly 20 representatives – primarily from the Meri-Lapland region – revealed a perceived lack of thorough engagement with the issue.
“This reflects a poor understanding of the issues,” said Heli Trög, a member of the Lapin hyvinvointialue council. “Some council members only trust the calculations and presentations made by the administration. Others believe this is not in accordance with good governance.”
The staff’s calculations also considered the potential impact of patients being diverted to Oulu University Hospital, and the associated costs for Lapin hyvinvointialue. The analysis suggests that a significant majority of surgical patients would seek treatment at OYS if the wellbeing area’s plans are implemented. The alternative proposal emphasizes the importance of initiating treatment for critically ill patients sooner, avoiding potentially risky transport delays. “Even though emergency medical services are good and start treatment, it still does not replace getting the patient to a treatment location earlier,” stated Paavo Uusimaa, chief physician at Länsi-Pohjan Hospital.
Lapin hyvinvointialue maintains that 90 percent of visits to Länsi-Pohjan Hospital will continue to be handled at the Kemi facility, and that there are no plans to alter the acute clinic’s operating hours or reduce the scope of outpatient services. The wellbeing area also announced plans to strengthen emergency medical services in the Meri-Lapland region, acknowledging the reduced on-site emergency preparedness at the hospital. Länsi-Pohjan Hospital offers specialized medical services, including memory clinic consultations and neuropsychological rehabilitation.
According to the wellbeing area, the financial impact of the changes will largely depend on how many patients are referred to Rovaniemi or Oulu. The area’s administration, along with a consulting firm, have conducted additional calculations to assess the impact of the proposed changes. Lapin hyvinvointialue asserts that only the state evaluation group’s proposal meets the requirement for sufficient savings and supports the safe organization of services.
The Lapin hyvinvointialue’s governing board will review the proposals on Monday, with the regional council scheduled to craft a final decision on the hospital’s fate within the next week.