Landspítali reports best waiting situation this century
Tuesday 1st September 2026 on 18:45 in
Iceland
According to Icelandic news outlet mbl.is, the situation at Landspítali hospital has not been better this century for patients waiting to move into nursing care or another suitable service.
The Ministry of Health said pressure on the hospital had eased considerably in recent weeks as the number of nursing places for older people increased. A total of 244 new places have opened in the past 12 months.
These include 64 nursing places at Boðaþing in Kópavogur, 80 at Nesvellir in Reykjanesbær and 100 short-term nursing places at Urðarhvarf. Vífilsstaðir has also reopened following extensive renovations, with 48 places.
Runólfur Pálsson, Landspítali’s chief executive, said the situation had improved significantly in recent weeks and that rarely had so few people been waiting for a permanent solution in recent years.
He cautioned, however, that the situation could change quickly and said services outside Landspítali would still need to be expanded.
More than 400 places planned
Health Minister Alma D. Möller said the increase in nursing places had already produced important results, both for people who had received suitable services and for the operation of Landspítali.
The plan is to open 154 new nursing places in 2027 and a further 251 in 2028.