HUS group negotiates €50 million savings, affecting 28,000 employees in Uusimaa

The HUS group, responsible for specialized healthcare in the Uusimaa region, is currently engaged in negotiation talks aimed at achieving annual savings of €50 million. The restructuring discussions could impact up to 28,000 employees, with the need for reductions estimated at around 990 full-time equivalents. The cuts will mainly affect non-direct patient care roles.

We spoke with three professionals who play significant roles in patient care despite not engaging directly in treatment. Among them, patient transporter Juuso Nurminen, who has worked for eight years at Meilahti Hospital, describes his job as vital yet not traditionally seen as patient care. Nurminen transports patients to various services, interacts with them, and assists in easing their anxiety during transfers. He believes that conversing with patients can help distract them from their concerns, often sharing light-hearted moments.

Jaana Iiskola, a ward secretary at Meilahti, notes that while her job involves various administrative tasks, it doesn’t include direct patient contact, as patients often arrive in a medicated state. Iiskola emphasizes teamwork and enjoys the diverse nature of her role, which involves managing numerous software programs and patient-related documentation.

Lastly, Hamideh “Bita” Ahmadi, a sterilization technician, has dedicated 13 years to her role. She manages to keep surgical instruments sterile and organized, stressing the importance of meticulous hygiene in the operating room environment. Ahmadi expresses concern that workforce reductions would simply increase the burden on remaining staff, thereby compromising care quality.

These perspectives highlight the unforeseen ramifications of workforce cuts on the healthcare system, emphasizing the importance of all roles in patient care, direct or indirect.