8 Hospitals to Lose 24h Surgery and Maternity Services
A new hospital network development plan is likely to see eight lower-tier hospitals around the country lose their round-the-clock surgery and maternity capabilities as part of an organizational shake-up.
According to the plan, worked out by the Ministry of Social Affairs, the changes would affect first level hospitals in Võru, Valga, Põlva, Järvamaa, Rapla, Läänemaa, and Jõgeva. A decision on the eighth hospital, on the island of Hiiumaa, is pending. The largest result of the move, which involves a number of cuts, is that the hospitals will no longer offer the services on a 24-hour basis, reported Eesti Päevaleht.
Heli Paluste, the head of the ministry's Health Care Department, said that many smaller hospitals have trouble finding staff and the doctors they do have are overworked. The planned restructuring, she said, is being made to increase quality and that the system should be viewed holistically.
Other vital services will not be affected by the reorganization, set to take place by 2020.