First Inga Stella Pétursdóttir, senior biologist, showed them the journey of blood samples. Then it was time to visit patients on hemodialysis, where nurse Sólveig Tryggvadóttir welcomed the group. Next a "tour" of the surgical ward, where Hilda Hólm Árnadóttir, head nurse, informed the guests about the daily tasks and challenges due to tourists in the ward. The presidential couple greeted patients, many of whom noting that this kind of visit would be a highlight of their trip. Finally, they went down to the kitchen, where food technician Hanna Fríður Stefánsdóttir led them through the unit until they ate together with staff. They had good conversations with the staff.

"We are very happy to have finally had the presidential couple pay an official visit to our hospital. The Akureyri hospital is among the largest workplace in the region and is extremely important as a backup hospital and a counterweight to the Landspítalinn in the capital area. We are proud of the staff who do extremely good and professional work here, and we want to put our human resources in the spotlight," says SAk's CEO Hildigunnur Svavarsdóttir about the visit of the presidential couple.

The presidential couple were very interested and asked a lot about the hospital. The group was sent off with gifts. SAk's CEO Hildigunnur Svavarsdóttir gifted them the book The History of Nursing in Iceland in the 20th Century by Margrét Guðmundsdóttir. Also they recieved pairs of marked hospital socks - knowing the president's interest in socks.

The Akureyri hospital sincerely thanks the presidential couple for the visit. Here are photos from the official visit by photographer Daniel Starrason.