HUS patients still face over six-month waits for non-urgent care
Friday 17th July 2026 on 09:30 in
Finland
Non-urgent treatment at Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) still requires waits exceeding six months, with the longest queues in orthopedic and eye care, Finland’s National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) reports.
Anja Martikainen has spent half a year waiting for knee replacement surgery, enduring daily pain and uncertainty. Her life has been on hold since February, with the procedure now likely to extend beyond the legally guaranteed six-month treatment deadline in early August.
Valvira announced in early July that HUS, along with the wellbeing services counties of Central Finland and North Karelia, still maintain waiting times that exceed legal limits. While access to care has improved, it remains insufficient. The agency has demanded a report from HUS by mid-October before considering a €3 million fine, reduced from an earlier €8.5 million due to significant progress since last autumn.
HUS has taken steps to address the backlog, including repurposing its Orton Hospital exclusively for joint replacement surgeries starting in April. The facility will operate at full capacity by early 2028, consolidating procedures from Lohja, Porvoo, and Peijas hospitals. HUS aims to eliminate regional disparities in access and accelerate needs assessments this autumn.
Martikainen, originally queued at Lohja Hospital, was unexpectedly transferred to Orton’s list in July. However, the shift introduced new delays, as patient records from Lohja have not yet been transferred to Orton’s separate system, requiring her to resubmit pre-operative information.
HUS Chief Administrative Physician Veli-Matti Ulander acknowledged the inefficiency, noting that the transition to the Apotti patient data system will streamline the process starting next year.
Martikainen criticized HUS for poor communication, stating that clearer updates on waiting times would have made the prolonged wait more bearable. She described the experience as living in a state of limbo, where even small daily tasks take on added significance.