Oulu university hospital facility crisis deepens with modular hospital plan

The facility crisis at Oulu University Hospital (OYS) in northern Finland is worsening, with plans to move operations from dilapidated buildings to a modular hospital, the public broadcaster Yle reported.

The hospital’s old buildings on the Kontinkangas campus suffer from severe indoor air problems and outdated technical systems. The situation has forced authorities to shift activities to temporary spaces, but the modular units will not be ready until autumn 2027.

The modular hospital will cover only about one-quarter of the 25,000 square metres currently used in the old OYS buildings, said Tuomas Holma, development chief physician at the wellbeing services county of North Ostrobothnia (Pohde). The remaining functions will be moved elsewhere.

Originally, the units were expected to continue in the current premises until 2029–2030, but that is no longer possible, Holma said.

Separately, the psychiatry building in Peltola has microbial growth, including radiation fungus, requiring a swift move to temporary quarters. The simultaneous crises at Kontinkangas and Peltola are straining the wellbeing services county.

“The clock is ticking and solutions must be found,” Holma said. Staff and patients have reported symptoms from poor indoor air, and water pipes have shown legionella bacteria.