Despite minus 22 degrees, between 2,000 and 3,000 people gathered on the square in Arvika on Friday evening.
The purpose: to stop the proposal to cut emergency medical care at Arvika hospital.
– Västra Värmland stands united against the region’s proposal, said municipal board chairman Peter Söderström to the large crowd on the square on Friday evening and received mitten-clad applause in response.
Opposition councilor Kristina Bengtsson Nilsson added:
– This proposal would be a disaster for Arvika’s future. You should never promise anything as a politician, but this I promise that it will prevent me from going through.
In addition to the unusually united front of the political parties in Arvika, the municipal councilors from Eda and Årjäng were also present, as well as healthcare personnel from all categories, representatives from the business world and, not least, a large number of Västvärmlanders.
Photo: Sonya Cunningham Oldenvik
“The entire western Värmland hospital”
Eda municipal councilor Hanna Andersson:
– It’s called Arvika Hospital, but I want to say it’s Western Värmland Hospital. The proposals would have an enormous impact on all of us and therefore we now want to send a clear message: think again and think right!
This was followed by an insight from Årjäng’s municipal councilor Stefan Moberg – who, for understandable reasons, had great difficulty finding parking in town – about how their municipality would also be affected by the proposals.
Thermia’s CEO Magnus Glavmo and site manager at Volvo Mikael Liljestrand also had their say.
Chief:
– We in the business world were surprised and concerned about the proposal. We understand that it’s about saving money. We are used to that. But the problem here is that you try to save on the most important thing we have.
Photo: Sonya Cunningham Oldenvik
Safety priority one
Liljestrand agreed and added:
– Everything starts with the base. The fact that we have an emergency department and security is priority one. Let’s hope the worst consequence of this proposal is that we’re standing here freezing on a Friday night.
Glavmo also called for sanity in the debate.
– I have spoken to regional politicians who have been attacked and threatened. It shouldn’t be like that. We must maintain a high morale in this.
”
When thousands of people stand outside in minus 22 degrees to protest, it’s proof enough that this is no small decision
— Håkan Nordblad
The next speaker was emergency doctor Catarina Widing, who works on the emergency line in Arvika.
– The type of tailored emergency medical care you can get with us is not available in very many places in the country. And the sad truth is that if my job disappears, you won’t be able to get emergency help with a long list of ailments at the hospital in Arvika anymore. Then you have two choices, either you go to Karlstad or you have to wait until the next day and go to the health center.
Photo: Sonya Cunningham Oldenvik
“Fake math”
The next speaker was Håkan Nordblad, CEO of Westra Wermlands Sparbank.
– As a banker, I can say that this proposal is false mathematics. They say it will save 23 million but do not look at the extra costs that appear elsewhere. There will not be fewer people who become acutely ill.
He continues:
– And if the decision is not removed from the agenda, it must at least be taken in the correct democratic order – in the regional council. When thousands of people stand outside in minus 22 degrees to protest, it’s proof enough that this is no small decision.
A strange rattling has now arisen among the chilled audience, who can no longer stand still but move on the spot, and hundreds of jackets touching each other sound like a light rain. When it is Camilla Gustafsson’s turn to speak, however, the sound is replaced by new muffled applause. Chairman of the Vårdförbundet in Värmland:
Photo: Sonya Cunningham Oldenvik
Will end up in line somewhere else
– Should there be a closure of emergency healthcare in western Värmland, we in the Vårdförbundet are very worried about healthcare in the rest of the county. Because there is no one who can take over. There are nearly 7,000 patients that Catarina and her colleagues take care of annually, as well as the patients at iva and others. They will instead end up in a queue elsewhere, which will not lead to better care for anyone. Therefore, we strongly oppose this proposal.
Second to last, Arvika Nyheter’s editor-in-chief Thomas Tynander gets the floor.
– This is an issue that engages and we have noticed that at Arvika Nyheter, it has been a crazy week when we have more than doubled reader traffic and we promise to continue monitoring this strictly and talk to both decision makers and those affected.
The whole family shut up. “This would affect all ages,” says Sara Löfqvist. “I am worried that there will be no healthcare for either my children or my mother. Or me and the old man for that matter. The picture shows Christer, Swea, Sarah, Lewis and grandmother Lynette. Photo: Sonya Cunningham Oldenvik
“Without the emergency hotline, we are not an emergency hospital”
Last out is Hanne Guro Hauge, chief physician at Arvika hospital.
– Both this and the previous regional management agreed that there should be three emergency hospitals in Värmland. There is no national definition of what they should contain, but there are authorities that have investigated the issue and concluded that it must be a hospital with reception with at least two emergency lines to be able to receive a wide range of ailments. Without the emergency hotline, we are not an emergency hospital because then we only have a medical hotline that can take care of medical ailments. This proposal could have devastating consequences in terms of preparedness, training, recruitment and conditions for high-quality care.
She continues:
– For things I said during this week, I have been called a vulgar propagandist. I see that as an honorable mention in the context and is a title that Magnus Glavmo and I share with pleasure. Thank you for all of you standing up for our fine hospital and working for a sustainable future for healthcare in western Värmland!
About all the evening’s speakers (from left): Hanne Guro Hauge, Håkan Nordblad, Kristina Bengtsson Nilsson, Peter Söderström, Camilla Gustafsson, Mogens Nielsen, Stefan Moberg, Magnus Glavmo and Hanna Andersson. Photo: Sonya Cunningham Oldenvik