Norwegian maternity wards face staffing crisis as births rise

Norway’s maternity wards are struggling with severe staffing shortages this summer, with Drammen hospital considering cancelling leave to cover shifts, according to a report by Dagbladet.

Sara Fugledal Wiik, head of the Norwegian Nurses’ Organisation’s midwife association, told the newspaper she was “extremely concerned” about the summer. At several hospitals, summer shift schedules are incomplete and have not been approved by union representatives because they are deemed unsafe.

At Drammen hospital, the situation was so critical that cancelling approved leave was proposed as a possible measure, Wiik said. However, union representatives stated in a message seen by Dagbladet that they do not support cancelling leave and that the conditions for such a step “are not currently met.”

Anniken Aasgaard, a midwife and union representative at Drammen hospital, said 200 shifts were still unfilled as summer approached. A special summer agreement offering extra pay for covering open shifts has since reduced the number to around 30.

“Previously, 70 unfilled shifts over a whole summer was considered a crisis. Now we can have 40–50 in a single week,” Aasgaard said. Summer adds pressure as a third of staff are on leave.

Birth numbers at Drammen hospital have risen, with 119 more deliveries from January to May this year compared to the same period in 2025. The hospital has warned pregnant women they may be redirected to Kongsberg, Bærum, or Ringerike if the maternity ward is full.

Marieke Claessen, head of gynaecology and obstetrics at Drammen hospital, said summer scheduling is an annual challenge, with all staff required to take three weeks of leave within nine weeks. She confirmed that while shifting leave periods was considered, voluntary solutions ultimately covered the gaps.

Oslo University Hospital (OUS) is also under strain, with union representative Julia Årtun describing the situation as unsustainable. “A plan is in place to ensure safe care, but it relies on staff taking on extra work,” she said. OUS has already turned away over 700 women seeking to give birth there this year, compared to 60 in all of 2025, citing capacity limits.

Wiik noted that smaller hospitals are increasingly being called upon to relieve pressure on larger ones, with examples including Akershus University Hospital sending patients to Kongsvinger and Volda supporting Ålesund.