Pirha starts staff talks over intellectual disability services

Pirkanmaa wellbeing services county has begun co-operation negotiations with staff working in services for people with intellectual disabilities, broadcaster Yle reported. The negotiations are linked to plans to reorganise how those services are provided.

Yle reported that Pirha’s management discussed the matter with staff on Tuesday. The county has not yet said how many employees will be covered by the negotiations.

Under the planned model, the county’s outpatient clinic for disability services would mainly treat patients with more severe disabilities from the beginning of next year. People with milder intellectual disabilities would primarily be referred to primary healthcare when possible.

The changes could affect employees’ work. Preparation of the reform is still under way, and Pirha said more information would be available after the negotiations.

According to Pirha, the reform is intended to bring services into line with the new Disability Services Act and is also linked to a shortage of qualified doctors. Because of the shortage, some outpatient clinic work has already been transferred to health centres.

Tuija Kaivanto, chair of the wellbeing services county’s disability council, said in July that the plans could be driven by savings. Pirha’s chief medical officer, Sirpa Rainesalo, denied that the changes were about savings, saying they were intended to standardise and improve services.