Eloisa council to decide on major savings package amid security concerns in South Savo

The council of the South Savo wellbeing district, Eloisa, will decide today on a massive savings package. Including previously made decisions, the savings will account for 10 percent of the region’s budget over the coming years. The meeting was unusually shifted to a remote format on Friday due to a potential threat. Seppo Lokka, the South Savo rescue chief, has chosen not to clarify the nature or content of the threat.

Mira Ilmoniemi, the deputy chair of the regional council, stated that no risks regarding personal safety were to be taken. “This is quite exceptional. Of course, the behavior on social media today can be quite intense, so even minor threats have to be taken seriously. One can never know what might actually happen,” she remarked. The Eloisa council includes prominent figures, such as Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen and several members of parliament, but it remains unclear whether Häkkänen will attend the meeting.

The meeting is expected to focus significantly on the cost-saving measures mandated for the Savonlinna hospital. The top areas identified for cuts include:

1. Hospitals: Over €8 million in savings are anticipated as South Savo is one of the few regions with two central hospitals, both providing 24/7 emergency care. The government’s proposal will nonetheless cut the night emergency care at Savonlinna. With current welfare district plans, only day surgical procedures would remain, reducing hospital bed availability by 39 and closing the intensive care unit.

2. Closure of small municipal wards: The wards in Juva, Sulkava, Rantasalmi, and Kerimäki would close, transferring patients to Savonlinna.

3. Reduction of leased spaces: Eloisa currently utilizes 35 hectares (approximately 350,000 square meters), with about half rented from municipalities, costing €27 million. Overall property expenses total €54 million. Eloisa anticipates a one-third reduction in space needs over the next decade.

4. Decreased staff ratios in caregiving: The ratio of caretakers in around-the-clock care will decrease with the government-required staffing levels dropping from 0.65 to 0.6. Eloisa plans to reallocate the released caretakers to a substitute staff, resulting in savings on contracted services.