Hospital Chief Calls for Further Emergency Measures

2026-02-13 - 12:28

Additional care spaces due to open in the coming days will ease pressure at Landspítali National University Hospital, but will not resolve conditions in its emergency department, according to chief executive Runólfur Pálsson. As reported by mbl.is, Health Minister Alma Möller announced that 17 new nursing care spaces and 28 day-care spaces will shortly begin receiving patients. A further 100 spaces are expected to open in Urðarhvarf in the coming months. What's the Story? 17 nursing care spaces and 28 day-care spaces opening; further 100 planned in Urðarhvarf Statement by Landspítali CEO Runólfur Pálsson that additions will not fully resolve emergency department conditions Delays to new treatment centre at Hringbraut now expected fully operational 2029–2030; acute assessment unit in Fossvogur projected April–May Doctor in Iceland. Photo: Páll Stefánsson Capacity pressures remain “Every addition helps, absolutely. What we have been calling for are rapid measures, essentially emergency measures, that all available means be used to relieve the situation in the emergency department, which has gone far beyond all limits, and in fact did so long ago,” Pálsson said. He added that while the extra capacity would assist, “they are not enough to improve the situation to the extent required.” Staff unions, including the Icelandic Nurses Association, have raised concerns about working conditions and patient privacy. Pálsson acknowledged longstanding challenges and cited delays to major construction at Hringbraut, where a new treatment centre is now expected to become fully operational in 2029–2030 rather than 2024. He also pointed to a delayed acute assessment unit in Fossvogur, now projected for completion around April–May. “Intervention is unavoidable. We cannot continue like this with these conditions until the Hringbraut facilities are finally completed,” he said.