Valvira requests status reports from hospital districts on access to specialist medical care

The National Supervisory Agency for Welfare and Health (Valvira) is requesting seven hospital districts to submit new status reports on access to non-urgent specialist medical care. Valvira undertook to investigate these seven hospital districts in spring 2021, on the basis of monitoring data compiled by the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). The situation of patients who have been waiting for treatment for a long time is concerning.

On the basis of monitoring data for 2021, all these hospital districts had had patients who had been waiting for non-urgent specialist medical care beyond the maximum times specified in the Health Care Act. Compliance with these statutory requirements has not been achieved, even though the hospital districts have sought to rectify the situation with various appropriate means. The reason for this failure is the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced specialist medical care to focus on urgent care as a priority. Because of this, Valvira chooses not to impose sanctions on these hospital districts. Instead, they are requested to submit new status reports, with monitoring data, on access to non-urgent specialist medical care as at the end of August 2022. The deadline for these status reports is 23 September 2022.

Valvira emphasises that access to non-urgent specialist medical care must be brought into line with statutory requirements as soon as the coronavirus pandemic situation allows. Valvira also reminds hospital districts that patients waiting for treatment must be given clear instructions on what to do in case their health deteriorates.

Hospital districts requested to submit status reports:

Hospital District of South Ostrobothnia
Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa
Central Finland Hospital District
Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District
Hospital District of Northern Savo
Satakunta Hospital District
Hospital District of Southwest Finland

Further information:

Legal counsel Reijo Jormanainen, 0295 209 320