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Finnish court overturns decision to centralize childbirth services in Lapland, sparking uncertainty

Monday 15th 2024 on 09:55 in  
Finland

The administrative court of Northern Finland has decided to prohibit the decision of the Lapland welfare region to concentrate childbirth in Rovaniemi. According to the decision by Laphan, childbirth in Kemi would cease. The administrative court justifies its decision as the regional government has decided to re-start preparations for changes in the service network. Childbirth in Lapland has been a contentious issue for a long time. In Meri-Lapland, there is a desire to maintain childbirth at the Mehiläinen Länsi-Pohja Hospital in Kemi, while on the other hand, the Lapland welfare region has decided to centralize childbirth to the Lapland Central Hospital in Rovaniemi at the turn of the year.

The CEO of Mehiläinen Länsi-Pohja, Lasse Männistö, says it is uncertain whether childbirth can continue at the Länsi-Pohja Central Hospital after the turn of the year, even if the closure decision was revoked. “Everything depends on the staff. There needs to be a discussion about the certainty with which the childbirth operation would continue,” Männistö says.

Männistö states that the management of the welfare region has not contacted him about the new twist brought about by the administrative court’s decision. “We officially still operate according to the decisions we have been told, that is, childbirth will end at the turn of the year. The phone has been ringing even more eagerly from the staff’s direction,” says Männistö. Many have inquired about what the administrative court’s decision means in practice.

Männistö says at least the uncertainty continues. Change negotiations have already been held with the maternity staff. “Many have already made new future plans. I don’t know how motivating it is to reconsider their decisions when nothing is certain,” Männistö ponders.

He says that the possible revocation of the closure decision would be a demanding process. It would bring additional costs, recruitment would have to start from scratch and the schedule would be very tight. “As a service provider, we do our best to adapt to changes, but their implementation requires perseverance and a stable operating environment,” Männistö emphasizes.