Akureyri Hospital
Activity figures for January – August 2023
11th September 2023
High pressure on inpatient wards and frequent tourist arrivals
The number of days spent at the Akureyri hospital over this period is 19,690, which is about 8.3% more than at the same time as last year, and the average stay is 4.7 days.
Most of the patients were admitted due to an emergency but they account for 79% of the total admissions.
The inpatient units have been under much stress, with bed occupancy at the internal medicine ward 99.6% and surgical ward 98.5%. There has also been much hassle at the psychiatric ward this year, with bed occupancy in the period 88.8% compared to 70% last year.
At the end of August 14% of inpatients in acute care units and Kristnespítali were waiting for a permanent placement at a nursing home in Akureyri. SAk has been under increased pressure after reduced number of spaces in nursing homes and it has not been possible to ensure adequate home care for individuals who can return home.
About 8,200 individuals have received outpatient services, 1,446 of which have been received for the administration of cancer drugs. There are 4,147 visits to day centres.
The emergency ward has admitted 7,677 individuals compared with 6,933 at the same time last year, and this has resulted in an increase of almost 11% over the period. Waiting time to see an emergency room physician is about 41 minutes, which is correct for the criteria set by the hospital.
Surgeries in January-August were 1,670, 36% of emergency operations. 206 total arthroplasty missions have been carried out to date.
The number of laboratory work from January to July was about 164,000. The number of diagnostic imaging (without mammograms) was nearly 26,800, on average, making it about 110 studies a day.
In the period from January to August, 270 children were born compared to 286 children at the same time last year.
There has been a sharp increase in tourist arrivals, with an increase of over 40% between years in the number of non-health-insured people arriving at the hospital. The number of inpatients also increases according to the study, but during the period there is an increase of 20% in admissions.