Comprehensive renovations of nursing facilities in Patreksfjörður and a new 10-room unit at the Eyri nursing home in Ísafjörður are on the authorities' implementation plan. With these two projects, the needs for nursing facilities in the Westfjords are met for the foreseeable future.
This morning the Ministry of Health published the new summary of the status of the implementation plan for the development of nursing facilities and the continuation of that plan until the year 2024. Among the four projects that are newly added to the plan are complete renovations of the nursing rooms in Patreksfjörður to improve facilities, and 10 new spaces in Ísafjörður.
In Patreksfjörður, nursing facilities are now in buildings that are run down and not in accordance with modern requirements. Thus, there are many double rooms and one triple room. Improvements have been awaited for a long time, but no provision has been made for an increase in the number of spaces. The nursing rooms are run alongside the hospital rooms, and although the joint operation will continue, the requirements for these two units are different and equipment must take this into account. There is also a need for considerable renovations to the kitchen and various house options. It has not been decided whether and how the existing building will be built. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2023.
In Ísafjörður, the nursing home Eyri opened at the turn of the year 2015-16 with three ten-room units, replacing the geriatric ward at the hospital. It was always clear that there would be a need for a fourth unit and the house was designed with the intention of having space for it on the plot. The nursing home was built using the so-called rental method, where Ísafjarðarbær owns and operates the building and rents it to Heilbríðisstofnun Vestfjörður. There is no longer construction with the lease route. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2024.
The next steps are to get the two projects to be prepared by the Norwegian State Administration. Among other things, there must be consultation with local authorities in the areas.
"Computational models have long shown an increased need for nursing facilities on Ísafjörður, and the poor facilities on Patreksfjörður have been clear and unacceptable to everyone. We won't cut the ribbons tomorrow, as there are many issues to be resolved, but both the promise and the schedule make all planning simpler," says CEO Gylfi Ólafsson.
The hospital in Patreksfjörður
Outline of the proposed extension at Eyri on Ísafjörður.
Gylfi Ólafsson, director of the Vestfjörður Health Foundation, Hildur Elísabet Pétursdóttir, head of the Eyrar department, and Guðmundur Gunnarsson, mayor of Ísafjarðarbær, at the planned location of the new unit.
Author: GÓ