Council members debate hospital cuts in South Savo, Finland, amid security threats

The South Savo Regional Council met virtually due to security threats to discuss record savings measures. A number of speeches were made regarding the proposed savings. The council decided to send the planned cuts to hospital services back for further preparation. Arto Sepponen’s motion defeated the government’s initial proposal with a vote of 39-19. Sepponen’s motion demands the re-evaluation of over eight million euros in savings concerning hospital services and emergency care, including night surgery at the Savonlinna Central Hospital.

Discussions among council members highlighted differing opinions on the division of labor between the two central hospitals in South Savo, one of the few welfare areas in Finland that operates two central hospitals. Critics of the proposed savings argue that they predominantly target the Savonlinna Central Hospital, raising questions about whether potential savings at Mikkeli Hospital had been adequately examined.

Janne Laine, a council member and mayor of Savonlinna, stated that the proposal had been poorly prepared and criticized the management of the changes. Eija Stenberg, another council member, warned that the region could even disintegrate if the government’s savings proposal is implemented.

Additionally, the council decided to return a proposal regarding the transfer of the elderly care unit from Kerimäki to Savonlinna back for preparation, approving Tuukka Suomalainen’s motion by a narrow vote of 31-27. Furthermore, Veli Liikanen’s proposal to exempt the replacement of social workers with nurses in youth mental health services from the adjustments was accepted with a vote of 45-14. Updates to the situation are expected.