The social and health trade union Tehy and the Nurses’ Association Super have announced their intention to organize four-day strikes in the intensive care units of both Turku University Central Hospital (TYKS) and Oulu University Hospital. The previous one was originally supposed to start tomorrow, but last week the Minister of Labor postponed it by two weeks. Tuula Haatainen (SDP). The latter is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 13.
“If a patient who needs intensive care does not get to intensive care, it is very likely that he will die. Patients’ rights and patient safety would obviously not be realized in such conditions. The situation is very serious and unfortunate, Henriksson said.
“I think the trade unions’ goal of beating wages and working conditions is understandable. All the industry’s pull factors must be strengthened, because the care shortage is a worsening reality that threatens patient safety. But I cannot understand the threat of a strike against intensive care patients – the patients who are the most vulnerable.”
Mika ValtonenTYKS chief physician of intensive care, told YLE previously that patients will die if the strike starts.
Strikes in intensive care units are exceptional. Announced strikes would pose a threat to patient safety, especially if the unions see their threat as refusing essential tasks during the strike.
Municipal and county employers (KT) have demanded a patient safety law from the government, which gives regional administrative agencies the possibility to assign nurses to work during a strike.
Minister of Family and Social Affairs Aki Lindén According to Helsingin Sanomat, (SDP) has not yet asked officials to draft a proposal, although he announced that he supports the law.
Henriksson considered that the law should be carefully considered, but reminded that even that cannot magically guarantee the realization of patient safety due to problems related to the delivery of staff orders and ensuring their compliance.
“It’s not a simple process,” he noted.
Another downside is that the act would provoke an “understandable negative reaction” among staff and could hinder efforts to resolve the labor dispute through negotiations.
“Extremely careful consideration is required to determine whether the benefits of the Patient Safety Act outweigh its disadvantages. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for that, Henriksson said.
Hospital districts’ tools for mitigating the effects of strikes are also limited: Patient transfers put patients’ lives at risk, especially for intensive care patients. Doctors probably don’t have the time or expertise to take over the duties of nurses on strike. Postponing surgeries that require intensive care causes risks and suffering for patients.
“Overall, the situation is difficult,” he summed up.
Henriksson emphasized that he does not want to be on the side of employers or employees in a labor market dispute and added that wages are agreed upon between the real parties to the dispute. However, he is concerned that the protracted dispute will weaken the industry’s appeal even more.
“It would be very important to find an agreement as soon as possible,” he said.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT