SAk Issues Call to Staff the Rehabilitation and Geriatric Medical Service at Kristnes

In the autumn, the decision was made to close the 7-day unit within the rehabilitation and geriatric medical service, as it had not been possible to achieve acceptable staffing levels. The management and staff of SAk’s rehabilitation and geriatric medical service are deeply committed to the service provided there and are highly motivated to ensure the best possible care for the broad group of patients who require specialized, interdisciplinary rehabilitation.

It has therefore been decided to make every effort to increase staffing so that the 7-day rehabilitation beds can remain open, and to issue a call to the community by advertising for nurses, nursing students, and healthcare assistants for daytime and shift work, as well as for temporary/on-call staff. We encourage people to share the advertisements so we can reach as many potential applicants as possible.

The measures and solutions introduced on the acute care wards during the autumn will continue — namely, completing the staffing of the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team, initiating interdisciplinary rehabilitation earlier, continuing the “active hospital” initiative, and further strengthening collaboration with Grensás, Heilsuvernd, and other healthcare institutions.

If this recruitment effort does not result in acceptable staffing levels, it will be unavoidable to reassess the operation and reprioritize.

The Executive Board of Akureyri Hospital emphasizes the importance of fully committing to the development of nursing home facilities in Akureyri, given the severe shortage of long-term care beds and the impact this shortage has on the hospital’s operations. It is also crucial to ensure strong home-based services and support options that help maintain individuals’ functional abilities and living arrangements — provided by the healthcare system, social services, and municipalities — with the aim of strengthening the entire continuum of care