Staff at Landspítali's emergency department are expressing serious concerns regarding their health and safety, citing an inability to ensure proper infection control measures. Helga Rósa Másdóttir, chairperson of the Nurses' Association, highlights that working conditions have become intolerable, leading to significant stress among staff. With the hospital operating at the highest alert level for over a year, patient overflow has seen individuals waiting in the emergency department for up to ten days due to lack of space in other departments.

The situation has prompted unions representing all emergency department staff to convene a meeting, indicating the urgency of addressing these pressing issues. The chairperson noted that staff rights are being violated alongside patients' rights, as they are forced to work in conditions that endanger both their health and that of the patients they care for. This alarming situation is compounded by the daily influx of patients, further straining the already overwhelmed emergency service.

As emergency services continue to operate under these challenging conditions, it raises critical questions about the healthcare system's ability to ensure safe working environments for staff and adequate care for patients. The ongoing dialogue among unions and management is crucial to resolving these issues, yet the persistent challenges reflect broader systemic problems within Iceland's healthcare framework.