Kuopio university hospital to introduce day surgery unit aiming for improved patient care

A new day surgery unit will be established at Kuopio University Hospital (KYS) as part of broader reforms to enhance treatment efficiency and reduce costs, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The North Savo wellbeing services county plans to integrate the day surgery unit into the hospital’s operations, with the goal of streamlining patient care and freeing up inpatient beds for more complex treatments. The reform is expected to generate annual savings of €20.6 million.

Jari Saarinen, director of general services for the wellbeing county, described the change as significant but assured that it would lead to better care for patients, including elderly residents. “The ‘grandmother from Pielavesi’ will receive even better treatment at KYS in the future,” he stated.

The reform will not result in large-scale layoffs, as staffing adjustments will primarily rely on retirements and reduced temporary contracts. The hospital’s current operations in Iisalmi and Varkaus will remain unchanged.

Johanna Hämäläinen, ward manager for internal medicine and pulmonary diseases at KYS, welcomed the changes, noting that patients could be transferred more quickly from emergency care to wards. She also highlighted potential benefits for staff scheduling, such as increased flexibility for shift preferences.

The day surgery unit is expected to accelerate access to care, particularly for patients with liver and kidney conditions. The wellbeing county also aims to expand service sales to other regions, boosting revenue through high-demand treatments like cataract surgery.

Additionally, the reform will allow nursing staff to work across multiple specialties, enhancing operational flexibility. Sami Remes, line manager for special services, emphasized that nurses could split their time between outpatient clinics, wards, and surgical support.

The implementation plan for the reform will be finalized by the regional council in early June.