The sixth edition of The Heart of HSU, the newsletter of the Healthcare Institution of South Iceland (HSU), has now been published. This summer edition brings together HSU news from May, June and July 2026 that has previously appeared on our website and social media channels, along with additional content published exclusively through HSU's own communications.

Click here to read The Heart of HSU (PDF). You can also browse individual pages (JPG) on HSU's social media channels, including Facebook.

In her foreword to this summer edition, Díana Óskarsdóttir, CEO of HSU, writes:

Looking Ahead from a Strong Foundation

Summer is a time when many of us pause to reflect on what has been accomplished and prepare for the months ahead. While many people enjoy a well-deserved holiday, healthcare services continue around the clock, every day of the year. That is one of the defining characteristics of healthcare. Behind every open primary care clinic, every emergency department visit, every inpatient ward shift, every ambulance response and every home nursing visit stands a dedicated team of professionals committed to providing safe, high-quality care.

Remarkable Activity Across HSU

Earlier this spring, we published HSU's Annual Report for 2025, offering a clear picture of the breadth and diversity of our operations. Last year alone, 57 babies were born at HSU, supported by nearly 3,800 maternity care appointments. Our teams carried out 16,468 diagnostic imaging examinations, admitted 1,114 patients to our inpatient wards, provided more than 4,100 oncology consultations and delivered over 1,600 appointments with psychologists.

People Define Our Success

These figures are important, but they tell only part of the story. Behind every number is an individual who needed our care and highly skilled healthcare professionals who met that need with expertise, compassion and respect. It is this human dimension that truly defines HSU and every healthcare institution. It cannot be measured in tables or charts.

This spring we were also pleased to learn that, according to the Icelandic Government's public service satisfaction survey, HSU was recognised as one of the organisations showing the greatest year-on-year improvement and was named among the country's "most improved public institutions."

A Strategy Focused on Better Care

Throughout the year we have continued implementing HSU's Strategy to 2030, which places strong emphasis on proactive healthcare services, an attractive workplace, a robust culture of quality and patient safety, and responsible financial management. These priorities are reflected not only in strategic documents but also in the everyday work of our staff, in decisions made close to the point of care and in the many development projects underway across the organisation.

Healthcare is constantly evolving. Our population continues to grow, society changes, and expectations for healthcare services increase. At the same time, these changes create new opportunities to improve both our services and the patient experience through stronger collaboration, new knowledge and the thoughtful adoption of modern technology.

Technology as a Valuable Support Tool

Over the past few months, we have taken important steps forward in digital innovation. Artificial intelligence is now supporting diagnostic imaging by helping clinicians identify certain emergency conditions more quickly. At Móberg Nursing Home, the Teton monitoring solution has also been introduced to enhance resident care and improve patient safety.

These innovations are not about replacing healthcare professionals. Rather, they are about providing valuable tools that support our staff and allow them to spend more time on what matters most: compassionate, person-centred care.

Collaboration as a Common Thread

Collaboration has remained a defining feature of HSU's work throughout recent months. A major multi-agency emergency exercise held this spring highlighted the importance of regular joint training between healthcare professionals, police, fire services, rescue teams and other emergency responders. When real emergencies occur, there is no time to build relationships. Trust, teamwork and shared procedures must already be firmly established.

The continued development of emergency response services in Öræfi reflects the same principle, where close cooperation with local communities and emergency partners continues to strengthen safety for both residents and the many visitors travelling through the region each year.

Multidisciplinary Care

We have also continued expanding services built around multidisciplinary collaboration. One excellent example is the Kraftmiklir krakkar ("Strong Kids") programme, where professionals from different disciplines work together to support children and families through coordinated, holistic care. Initiatives such as these remind us that innovation is not only about technology—it is equally about finding better ways to work together for the benefit of those we serve.

A Diverse Organisation

Whenever I visit our facilities across South Iceland and parts of East Iceland, I am reminded of the extraordinary diversity of HSU's work. In one location we welcome new life into the world; elsewhere we care for patients with serious illness or injury; and in many places we provide the support, care and security that people depend on every day. Although the work varies greatly, it is united by professionalism, commitment and a genuine desire to provide the very best care.

Thank You

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all HSU employees for their dedication. Summer can be a particularly demanding period. Tourist numbers increase, workloads shift, and many colleagues take annual leave, yet healthcare services must continue uninterrupted. That is only possible because our people demonstrate responsibility, flexibility and outstanding professionalism every single day.

I also wish to thank the residents of HSU's service area, our municipalities and all our partners for their continued cooperation. Healthcare is never stronger than the relationship it builds with the communities it serves.

Building on a Strong Foundation

In this edition of The Heart of HSU, we look back on the most important developments of the past few months and highlight the many projects that continue to shape our organisation. As we move into the second half of the year, we do so with a clear vision and strong determination to further strengthen healthcare services for the people of our region.

Our goal remains unchanged: that the people we serve can always rely on HSU when it matters most. That trust is our most valuable asset.

Díana Óskarsdóttir
CEO
The Healthcare Institution of South Iceland (HSU)