The Government proposes to provide more money for psychologists in municipalities. A further 20 million kroner is set aside in the next year’s budget.
– More than half of all municipalities and districts have now psychologist expertise in place, and when the government increases the grant by 20 million more in 2017, it will open up for at least 65 new full-time positions, said Health Minister Bent Høie to news agency NTB.
This year 81 million were allocated to the grant for psychologists in municipalities.
The government sent in June out a bill on competence in the municipalities for consultation. Under the proposal, all municipalities should have a doctor, nurse, physiotherapist, midwife and nurse in place by 2018.
From 2020, there will be also provided a psychologist, occupational therapist and dentist.
The consultation period expired at the weekend.
In several of the responses the government was asked to make demands on the social competence in municipalities. Labor union Fagforbundet opposes the statutory on competence and believes that it should be up to local authorities to assemble the workforce for their needs.
Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today
