HUS treatment queues remain too long

The Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS) still has many patients waiting over six months for non-urgent care, according to a report by Yle.

Finland’s Licensing and Supervision Authority (Valvira) is considering imposing a conditional fine after granting HUS an extension until mid-October to resolve the backlog. Valvira had previously ordered HUS to bring waiting times in line with legal requirements by the end of April, under threat of an €8.5 million fine.

The fine has not been enforced as the situation has improved slightly since autumn. HUS has taken steps to ease the strain, including centralising joint replacement surgeries at Orton Hospital, which began operations in early April.

Despite these measures, waiting times remain excessive. Yle is inviting readers who are affected to share their experiences for a follow-up report.