Many in the Center Party have not given up on stopping the development of the New National Hospital in Oslo. They want to keep Ullevål hospital. They primarily fear that all the money the New National Hospital will cost, NOK 50 billion, will weaken the development of hospitals elsewhere in the country.
SAYS NO: Morten Edvardsen, deputy chairman of Oslo Sp, wants to keep Ullevål Hospital. Photo: Anneli Isaksen / TV 2
The uprising started in Oslo, where the deputy chairman of Oslo Sp, Morten Edvardsen, argues that Ullevål hospital, with its special functions, must continue to exist.
– We need a health policy that gives people security. It is therefore important that we preserve Ullevål Hospital and the functions found there. This is not a lost cause, not a shovel has been put in the ground at Gaustad. This project must be stopped. It will result in far too little capacity, and go beyond the health services throughout Norway, says Edvardsen.
Rematch
He believes that the conditions have changed since the Hurdal platform was adopted. It says here that the government wants good health services throughout the country, which he believes the New National Hospital will destroy.
– The Center Party cannot sit and watch what is happening now, we have to stop the project before it gets started, he says to TV 2.
And he gets the support of at least three other county leaders. Both Akershus, Buskerud and Oppland support the proposal from Oslo, which states that “construction of the New National Hospital should not be started”. The wording is included in a resolution on health policy which is discussed at the national meeting. The vote on this is not expected until Saturday. And the four TV 2 have spoken to, hope and believe that they will be able to obtain a majority for the proposal.
AKERSHUS: The manager of Akershus Sp will also retain Ullevål Hospital. Photo: Anneli Isaksen / TV 2
Brita Skallerud, county manager of Akershus Sp, fears that the construction of the New National Hospital will affect hospitals all over the country.
– Other hospitals are now put on hold because all the money has to be used in Oslo. This is not good for Norway. We have to look at this with new eyes, she says.
– Is there a health revolt underway?
– I don’t know if it’s a rebellion, but we have to take responsibility for the whole country. It is our duty to speak out about the fact that this project is not working, it does not look good, she says.
Support from several county teams
Sigrid Ilsøy, the manager of Buskerud Sp, says that there are already several billions in cost gaps for Rikshospitalet. Initially, this was supposed to cost NOK 38 billion, but the latest estimates, including from NRK, indicate that it will cost at least NOK 50 billion.
WATCH AGAIN. The development of Nye Rikshospitalet must be reassessed, believes the manager of Buskerud Sp, Sigrid Ilsøy. Photo: Anneli Isaksen / TV 2
– This development will affect the whole of Helse-Norge and be a threat to all other investments. This also reduces services to patients. The prerequisites for this development have changed and the government must take that seriously. We have to look at projects with huge overruns. You have no control here, we are already 12 billion over budget before the work has started. This needs to be looked at again, she says to TV 2.
She points out that a collective professional environment, shop stewards for 22,000 people, the majority in Oslo and almost the entire Center Party, do not want this development. And that many good professionals escape to private clinics to provide the same services there.
– This is completely contrary to the Hurdal platform. We must ensure specialist health services throughout the country. Something we won’t be able to do if Nye Rikshospitalet is not stopped. This goes beyond the whole country. It is obvious that this must be taken up again. We believe it is possible and are working towards it, she says.
In Oppland, too, they are reacting to the plans for the New National Hospital. County leader Marit Sletten fears that the investments in Oslo will affect the investments in Oppland and the entire interior.
SUPPORT: Oppland Sp also supports the rebels, here by the leader of the county team Marit Sletten. Photo: Anneli Isaksen / TV 2
– That is why we are very involved in this matter. The government has said that we will have a review of major projects to see if there is a need for changes. And this is certainly a project we have to look at, she says to TV2
– Can you win?
– We mean it. Now we are working to get a majority here at the national meeting.
Already adopted
The board of Health South-East has already decided to build two new hospitals in Oslo, and to close Ullevål. The Ministry of Local Government and Districts has also adopted the state regulation plan for new buildings at Aker and Rikshospitalet. And in the Hurdal platform it says the following:
“Ensure that the entire Groruddalen population receives local hospital services at Nye Aker Hospital as quickly as possible and implement changes in the hospital structure in Oslo in accordance with agreed plans.”
Those who now want a rematch on this matter also point to another point in the Hurdalsplattformen, which they believe speaks for reconsidering the matter.
“Norway must have a decentralized hospital structure that ensures preparedness and provides all residents with sound and safe hospital treatment.”
A new national hospital will destroy this vision, according to the rebels. The proposal may receive a majority at the national meeting, because in addition to the aforementioned county teams, both Østfold, Sogn og Fjordane, Finnmark and the Sami political representatives have considered supporting the proposal.
The vote at the national meeting will probably come on Saturday.