North Ostrobothnia council seeks permit for emergency healthcare services in Kuusamo and Oulaskangas

The North Ostrobothnia welfare area’s regional council has decided to apply for an exception permit to continue round-the-clock primary healthcare emergency services in Kuusamo and Oulaskangas. The council agrees on the necessity of these services for accessibility, patient safety, and population needs.

Approved applications will be sent to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, along with welfare areas in Central Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, and Lapland, for the regional councils to review and provide the necessary endorsements. The Ministry informed during a press conference last Friday that it has made adjustments to its legislative proposal regarding the reform of Finland’s hospital network.

The government proposes a temporary law effective from January 1, 2025, allowing for outpatient surgical procedures, including day surgeries for knee and hip replacements at Oulaskangas Hospital, even without key specialty emergency services. These day surgeries may also be conducted in the private sector, potentially continuing until June 30, 2028.

Additionally, the Ministry’s proposal suggests an earlier termination of Oulaskangas Hospital’s round-the-clock emergency services, moving the end date from January 1, 2026, to October 1, 2025. Following this, urgent consultation services could be offered until 10 PM.

Oulaskangas Hospital is crucial for residents south of Oulu. If the law passes, specialized emergency care would be provided at Oulu University Hospital, while the welfare area retains the right to maintain continuous primary healthcare emergency services in Kuusamo. There are concerns about the proposed changes’ implications for residents and specialized healthcare operations in Northern Finland. The Ministry can grant permits for continuous primary healthcare or acute medical emergency services based on accessibility and the adequacy of emergency response services. Oulaskangas Hospital serves over 100,000 residents in the southern area of North Ostrobothnia.