Minister of Health Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap) is concerned about the large use of hired labor in the health institutions. She is now asking the hospitals to limit the use of temp agencies.
On Tuesday, the Minister of Health will give the annual hospital speech, and lead a joint enterprise meeting for all the health regions.
There they will receive a clear message to stop the use of temp agencies as much as possible, writes The daily newspaper.
– The healthcare institutions are tasked by me with a critical review of hiring, and a clear expectation to limit hiring. We see a development that worries us. We depend on having good employees in the health service in the years to come, and we depend on keeping the professionals we have, says Kjerkol.
Exceptions to the rule
The Minister of Health believes that the situation for the health service in Norway indicates that they have to have an exception to the rule on hiring, in order to be able to operate responsibly throughout the country.
Several trade unions have strongly opposed the government’s decision last year to have an exception for the health service, but Kjerkol’s austerity is nevertheless approved by the union’s leader Mette Nord.
Nord says she is very happy about the tightening and clarification that is being done now.
– It is important that we staff our hospitals with full permanent positions, she says.
