Ett svar till ... | Isabella Löwengrips blogg

.. på mitt inlägg om BB Sophia , denna gång från Gabriel Wikström , Folkhälso-, sjukvårds- och idrottsminister.

Vad säger ni?

.. another answer to my blog entry about BB Sophia , this time from Gabriel Wikström , Sport and Health Care Minister.

(Translation in English) Hi Isabella! I understand your anxiety and anger, and with that of many other parents-to-be too. And I essentially agree with you. Obstetrics care in Sweden is not good enough right now - not in Stockholm nor in many other locations around the country. A child being born is one of the biggest events in someone's life and to receive good care and to feel safe and secure should be an unquestionable right. My party is and has been critical of this market experiment, which has now resulted in an unstable situation. Basically, the county councils are responsible for obstetrics and Stockholm county council is therefore overall responsible for the situation concerning BB Sophia. But I, as a minister together with the entire Swedish government, am responsible for obstetrics care on a national level. With the situation being as it is, we are going to take this responsibility very seriously.

The government is therefore making obstetrics a top priority. We are putting in 400 million SEK per year - a total of 1.6 billion SEK up to and including 2019. This sum is allocated, more or less in its entirety, to the county councils in order to ensure better obstetrics care.

In order for all health care and hospital care to function properly in Sweden, competency and access to new knowledge and expertise is vital. Not least applicable in maternity care. No one should have to risk being mistreated because of relevant facts or scientific research etc. not reacing the right party in time. The government has therefore appointed the National board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) to map what requirements the area of obstetrics and maternity care have for further knowledge and support.

The government are also expanding the midwife study program, with money earmarked to provide 250 new places across Sweden. I hope the efforts we are now making will lead to women receiving better care and safer, more secure and better childbirths. With regards to maternity wards and the allowance they should receive, these decisions aren't taken by me or the government. The county councils are responsible for these. So to the question about why BB Sophia in particular has to close down and what obstetrics care should look like in the future, the responsible politicians at county council level have to answer you. The question you are raising is important, not just for women but for our society in general. I hope that this answer sheds some light on what we are going to do from the government's side to improve obstetrics care. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to write again. Kind regards, Gabriel Wikström Sport and Health CareMinister

What's your opinion?