The bed capacity at the hospital in Stavanger has been exhausted due to high numbers of coronavirus, respiratory disease, and RS virus patients. At the same time, a record number of people are on sick leave.

“We have nurses who cry at work, who have high blood pressure, and are starting to get stress symptoms. Sick leave (levels) are high. Especially in the pediatric ward and intensive care,” the main shop steward for the nurses, Mette Øfstegaard, told the newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad.

She says employees show up at work without knowing when they can go home again. Some work double shifts and up to 17 working hours a day.

Sick leave is now up to 15% due to illness or employees having sick children, according to director Eldar Søreide. He pointed out that the government has asked the health trusts to plan for up to 20% sick leave.

“There is no reserve capacity to use when it comes to personnel. Most people who work at this hospital have worked a lot in the last year and a half. We do everything we can to avoid the burden becoming too great for the employees who have to work extra,” he said.

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

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