Landspítali University Hospital in Fossvogur, Iceland, is undergoing construction for a new addition to its emergency services. The goal of this expansion is to establish a triage department modeled after successful systems in the UK. The need for such changes comes in light of ongoing issues at the emergency department, where many patients remain in the hospital despite completing their treatment, exacerbating delays for incoming patients.

Rafn Benediktsson, the hospital's executive director of emergency medicine, highlights concerns raised by staff regarding patient care conditions at the emergency room, which have attracted media attention recently. This change aims to alleviate some of these pressures by redesigning the operational approach to improve patient handling and access to medical care.

The new structure is expected to allow patients to meet with doctors sooner and streamline procedures at the emergency room. This initiative reflects a broader conversation within the hospital about addressing workflow issues and enhancing the overall patient experience, a necessary step in light of the recent scrutiny on emergency services in Iceland.