Etelä-Karjala ends overnight ambulance coverage after three units moved to day shifts

South Karelia’s wellbeing services county has reversed its decision to shift three ambulances from overnight to daytime duty after staff and union representatives called for a more equitable roster.

The change, which takes effect in October, replaces the previous model that had permanently reassigned ambulances in Savitaipale, Joutseno and Rautjärvi to 12-hour day shifts beginning at the start of the year.

Under the revised plan, one to three ambulances will rotate through day shifts across all local units while the remaining fleet stays on 24-hour standby, the county said on Monday.

“The new model distributes the impact more evenly for both staff and residents,” said Jan-Erik Palviainen, service manager for the acute care unit at South Karelia wellbeing services county.

The county cited evidence from the first six months showing no significant increase in emergency response times after the three units were removed from overnight duty.

The revised roster was developed in response to feedback from employees and union representatives during joint consultation talks, Palviainen added. Implementation required additional planning and an exemption from the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency, which was granted in time for the October rollout.