Norway's Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre faces a police report filed by relatives and local politicians demanding the restoration of emergency services in Mosjøen. The controversial closure of the acute care function at Helgelandssykehuset in Mosjøen last autumn has sparked legal action and accusations of systemic failure.
Relatives and Politicians Demand Justice
A group representing relatives and several local politicians formally reported Minister Vestre, the board of the Northern Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse Nord), and the board of Helgelandssykehuset to police. The action group, 'Yes to the One Hospital Model in the Heart of Helgeland,' claims the removal of emergency care has created a dangerous situation for residents.
Atle Jørgensen, group leader for the Vefsn Cross-Political Party, stated the move was necessary. 'We are doing this because this is a predicted catastrophe,' Jørgensen said. The politicians' core demand is clear: they want the acute medical function returned to Mosjøen immediately.
A Alleged Fatal Consequence
Eirin Horrigmoe, group leader for the Progress Party in Vefsn, provided a stark indictment of the current system. 'Our residents here have become pawns in a health system that has totally failed,' Horrigmoe said. She argued the emergency function was removed without a viable alternative in place.
Her statement included a grave accusation regarding the human cost. 'And when this in the worst case has cost lives, then we can no longer sit still,' Horrigmoe added. The case referenced involves an elderly woman in her 80s from Mosjøen.
That woman was transported between the local hospitals in Mo i Rana and Sandnessjøen with a broken back. She later died at the hospital in Sandnessjøen. This tragic event has become a focal point for the group's anger and their claim that the policy change is endangering patients.
Official Responses Measured and Cautious
The Ministry of Health and Care Services confirmed they were informed of the police report through media channels but declined further comment. The response from the health authorities was similarly reserved.
Kim Hannisdal, Director of Communication and Public Contact for Helse Nord, wrote that they were unaware of the police report. He noted that if a report was filed, it was a matter for the police to handle, on which they had no comment.
On a general basis, Hannisdal defended the hospital's performance. He stated that Helgelandssykehuset provides good services and has well-functioning routines for uncovering and correcting deviations when they occur.
A System Under Scrutiny
The police report escalates a long-running conflict over centralization in Norway's rural healthcare. The 'One Hospital Model' for the Helgeland region has been deeply contentious, pitting medical efficiency arguments against local demands for accessible emergency care.
The closure in Mosjøen forced patients to travel longer distances to the hospitals in Mo i Rana or Sandnessjøen for acute treatment. For communities in the Vefsn municipality, this means significantly extended emergency response times in a region known for challenging weather and long distances.
Local politicians argue this restructuring was done without adequate contingency plans or infrastructure improvements. They claim the decision has left a dangerous gap in the safety net for thousands of residents.
Political Fallout Spreads
The decision to involve the police marks a new, more confrontational phase in the dispute. It moves the issue from political debate and public protest into the realm of potential legal accountability. The complainants are effectively asking law enforcement to investigate whether the decisions made constitute a criminal failure of duty.
This action places immense pressure on Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre. While ministers are rarely subjected to criminal complaints over policy decisions, the inclusion of a specific patient death in the narrative adds severe gravity to the accusations.
The case also tests the authority of the regional health boards, Helse Nord and Helgelandssykehuset. Their defense rests on the broader national policy of consolidating specialized acute care into larger, centralized units, a policy meant to ensure higher medical standards but often criticized for reducing local access.
The Road Ahead for Northern Healthcare
The immediate next step lies with the police, who must assess whether to open a formal investigation. Such an investigation would scrutinize the decision-making process that led to the closure of the Mosjøen emergency unit.
Regardless of the legal outcome, the controversy highlights the enduring tension in Norwegian regional policy. Balancing medical expertise concentrated in larger centers with the democratic right to accessible local services remains a fundamental challenge.
The patient case cited by the politicians will likely become a central piece of evidence. It underscores the very real-world consequences of healthcare restructuring, where theoretical models meet complex geographical and human realities.
For the residents of Helgeland, the police report is a final attempt to be heard. They argue their safety has been compromised by a distant bureaucratic decision. The government and health authorities now face the difficult task of defending a national policy while answering for local tragedies. The coming weeks will show whether this legal challenge forces a reconsideration of how Norway cares for its citizens in the Arctic north.