Länsi-Pohja Hospital downsizing plans remain unchanged after review

A new assessment by consulting firm Nordic Healthcare Group (NHG) has concluded that no major changes will be made to the planned downsizing of Länsi-Pohja Hospital in Kemi, with only minor cost and operational adjustments proposed.

The Lapland Wellbeing Services County’s regional board voted 10–5 on Thursday to uphold the earlier proposal, which includes ending intensive care and monitoring services entirely and limiting anaesthesiology to regular working hours. The decision follows a February request from the county council for a revised cost analysis and further evaluation of patient safety impacts.

NHG’s updated report confirms that cost savings—ranging from €660,000 to nearly €4 million—will still be achieved even if some patients require transfer to Oulu University Hospital (OYS). The report also notes that OYS’s capacity to receive patients remains unchanged since February, though surgical operations have since improved.

Under the plan, day surgery will continue at Länsi-Pohja, but the earlier term “light day surgery” will no longer be used. Emergency medical resources will be increased, with 1–2 units now proposed instead of the previous 0.5–1. The original state evaluation had called for all surgical services to be discontinued.

The hospital’s staff, doctors, and ward managers submitted an alternative proposal last week, claiming their model would save over €1.2 million annually while preserving a four-bed intensive monitoring unit. They argue the county’s plan would increase costs by over €600,000 due to patient transfers to OYS and transport expenses to Rovaniemi and Oulu.

The county council will make a final decision on the hospital’s future profile at its meeting next Monday.