Runólfur Pálsson, the CEO of Landspítalinn, has reported a worsening situation in the emergency room over the past weeks, prompting the consideration of temporarily leasing hotel spaces to assist in operations. These accommodations would be allocated to patients awaiting placement in other facilities of Landspítalinn, addressing the strain on resources. The gathering at Grand Hotel involved emergency department staff who criticized the government for not responding effectively to the current crisis, highlighting that there are typically around one hundred patients in the emergency room, which is only designed to accommodate thirty-six.

During a recent news segment, Alma Möller, the Minister of Health, mentioned that actions are being considered to tackle the issues currently facing the emergency department, indicating that the government is aware of the challenges at hand. She noted that efforts to solve the problem are underway, although specific measures were not detailed. The proposal to use hotel rooms adds an unconventional but urgent response to an increasing healthcare challenge, as the healthcare system in Iceland seems stretched beyond its intended capacity, raising concerns about patient care and safety in the emergency services across the country.