HUS Group announces negotiations affecting 28,000 individuals in Uusimaa region due to cost-saving measures

The HUS Group, responsible for specialized healthcare in the Uusimaa region, announced today that it will commence negotiations under the Finnish Employee Cooperation Act (yt negotiations). These negotiations could involve up to 28,000 individuals and potentially lead to a reduction of approximately 990 person-years.

HUS CEO Matti Bergendahl explained that the impetus for starting these negotiations stems from significant needs for cost savings. He acknowledged the ongoing staff shortage in the healthcare sector, emphasizing that maintaining regulatory obligations for patient care access is becoming increasingly challenging. Bergendahl mentioned, however, that the availability of staff has improved over the past 18 months.

The negotiations will not specifically target any particular function, profession, or group of employees. The priority will be to avoid impacting those directly involved in patient care. Previously, a decision was made to discontinue delivery services in Lohja, but Bergendahl stated that the current proposal would not affect the timeline for this transition, which remains scheduled for the end of this year or by 2026 at the latest.

Concerns about whether cost-saving measures could lead to a centralization of services in larger centers, such as Helsinki and Espoo, were addressed. Bergendahl reassured that there are no plans to shut down any units, emphasizing the commitment to providing specialized care as close to patients as possible.

When asked about potential impacts on patient safety, Bergendahl indicated that while it is impossible to guarantee there will be no negative effects, HUS will make every effort to ensure patient safety and care quality remains intact.

The negotiations might result in layoffs and part-time work, as a recruitment ban has been in place since June. Although measures without personnel cuts had already saved €130 million, the current situation necessitates unavoidable staff-related actions.