Emergency services at the Turku University Hospital are facing severe overcrowding issues that have pushed staff to their limits. Nana Kautto, the chief shop steward of Varha Tehy, expressed deep concern over the increasingly dire situation which has not shown signs of improvement over an extended period. With reduced inpatient wards and the closure of overnight emergency services in Salo, the pressures on the emergency department have only intensified. Kautto highlighted that staff could manage the current patient load if patients were transferred to follow-up care facilities more swiftly.

Currently, approximately 40 elderly patients are waiting for follow-up care placements in the emergency department, with some having waited for as long as three days. The emergency department has a total of 65 beds but is handling between 80 to 100 patients daily, forcing several patients to be accommodated in the corridors due to the shortage of space. This acute situation not only affects the quality of patient care but also places significant emotional and physical strain on the healthcare staff tasked with managing these challenging circumstances.

The ongoing challenges at Turku University Hospital reflect broader systemic issues within the Finnish healthcare system. The reduction of basic inpatient departments and the lack of additional resources to accommodate the increasing patient load suggests that these concerns may continue to escalate unless comprehensive policy changes are implemented. Addressing these critical issues is essential, not only for the welfare of patients but also for the mental and physical well-being of the healthcare personnel who are dedicating their efforts to provide medical assistance under strenuous conditions.