Akureyri Hospital
Friends of the Hospital donate a new plaster saw to the surgical day and outpatient department
12th November 2025
The Friends of Akureyri Hospital have donated a new plaster saw to the surgical day and outpatient department.
The old saw had served for many years and had become both noisy and cumbersome to use. Plaster saws are specially designed to cut only through plaster without damaging the skin. The new saw is much lighter, quieter, and easier to handle than the old one, making the nurses’ work easier and hopefully improving the experience for patients when having their casts removed.
“We are extremely grateful to the Friends for this generous gift,” say Þórgunnur Birgisdóttir, head nurse of the surgical day and outpatient department, and Eydís Unnur Jóhannsdóttir, nurse at the same department.
Encouraging people to join the Friends
“It’s always a pleasure to be able to provide hospital departments with equipment that improves patient care and staff working conditions,” says Jóhannes Bjarnason, chairman of the Friends, adding:
“We rely on continued support so that the work of the Friends can thrive, and we encourage members to pay the contribution invoices they receive in their online bank. That’s how we can continue giving gifts like this.”
The contribution of the Friends is vital to Akureyri Hospital
It’s worth noting that last year, the Friends of Akureyri Hospital donated equipment valued at ISK 62 million. In comparison, the hospital’s investment allocation in the national budget for that year was ISK 200.6 million. The donations from the Friends therefore accounted for about 31% of the state’s investment contribution in 2024.
“The contribution of the Friends is simply vital for Akureyri Hospital — as are the contributions from other community partners. It’s almost unimaginable to think of the hospital’s equipment situation without the generosity of these external donors,” says Konráð Gylfason, executive director of operations and clinical support services.