Debate, Hospital Chaplain | It is unwise to skimp on experience in life's acute crises

post corresponding This is an entry in the discussion, written by an external contributor. The publication expresses the views of the author.

With regard to the now much discussed issue of closing the on-demand system of priestly ministry, I, as a representative, have highlighted the opposition to trade unions in various forums. She also opposed the decision of the board of directors of Sykehuset Østfold, in the role of employee representative.

One of the reasons the trade union believes this to be an unwise decision is the unique experience clergymen have in assisting with difficult emotional tasks, which consists, among other things, of caring for employees who encounter very serious accidents on the job and the sick and ill. Relatives who are experiencing life crises in the evenings and on weekends.

Afraid that the job at the hospital might be too much

It will not be so from the fall, because savings will have to be made. From autumn, any person in the Østfold Hospital, whether employee, patient or relative, suddenly finds himself in a situation where, by all indications, he will need the services of a hospital chaplain in the evening or on weekends, the working hours being indicated on weekdays.. ..

We believe that the financial costs of this arrangement are very low compared to the benefits of this on call arrangement.

The trade union believes that this offer for both employees, patients and relatives is very important, and should in no way be substituted, taken care of or imposed on other employees. The additional burden it will cause to other employees, who then have to take care of this service, we believe may have inappropriate negative consequences, both in the short term for the individual employee, and in the long term for the operation of Sykehuset Østfold.

We believe that the financial costs of this arrangement are very low compared to the benefits of this on call arrangement.

I was also told that the union at the hospital was a “co-instigator” in making such an offer to patients, relatives and staff. Based on our experiences with what the Priest Service has provided year after year in the form of services and support outside of “normal business hours”, I can say on behalf of the guild that this is something we will definitely fight for again.

The hospital chaplain has been cut because he is being used

It might be ‘simple’, as many now think that decision to be wrong, to say ‘If this expenditure item is removed, then another offer must be removed’. In this case, we believe that the people of Norway deserve to hear from decision-makers about the services that we all, whether as patients, relatives or employees of Sykehuset Østfold, deserve from public health services.

This concrete decision to close the on-demand service scheme has been decided by the hospital management and the majority of the hospital board, but the task of reducing costs has been set by our elected politicians.

Then again, the guild at Ostfold Hospital believes that this is a very unwise decision made, and there must certainly be room for reversal in this case.