Doctor shortage forces Vog to cut admissions sharply

Admissions to Vog hospital have fallen sharply because of a doctor shortage, SÁÁ chief executive Baldvina Ýr Hafsteinsdóttir told Morgunblaðið, according to mbl.is.

SÁÁ has hired doctors for small part-time roles and brought in a doctor from Sweden. The Swedish doctor started earlier this month, speaks Icelandic and is familiar with the Icelandic healthcare system. SÁÁ is also working on an agreement with a Danish psychiatrist. No doctor has yet started at Vog through a partnership with Landspítali hospital.

“Because of the temporary staffing situation among doctors, we have significantly reduced admissions,” Baldvina said. She described the move as a deliberate measure to ensure patient safety, adding that admissions would increase as doctor staffing improves.

Baldvina said she was not aware of generally poor relations between the Swedish doctor and staff, after being asked about reports of difficulties.

The responses also addressed the Child and Family Agency’s use of premises at Vog. Baldvina referred questions about the decision to her predecessor, saying it was made before she became chief executive.

SÁÁ chair Anna Hildur Guðmundsdóttir said the previous chief executive had offered the agency the use of premises that were not in use. The two sides later discussed continuing the lease. Both SÁÁ’s executive management and main board had been informed, she said, but it was not clear whether the board formally approved the rental.