Hospital Overcrowding Sparks Criticism of Proposed Care Home Changes

2026-02-07 - 10:57

The head of the Icelandic Medical Association (Læknafélag Íslands) has raised serious concerns about overcrowding at the emergency department of the country biggest hospital Landspítali. Expressing her concerns in the latest article on Vísir, Steinunn Þórðardóttir warned that the situation is becoming unsustainable. What's This Story? Steinunn Þórðardóttir is chair of the Icelandic Medical Association Overcrowding reported in Landspítali’s emergency department Landspítali University Hospital is located in Reykjavík More than 100 elderly patients are waiting in hospital for nursing home places The emergency department is designed for 36 patients and has treated up to 100 Landspítali is required to meet a 4 billion ISK austerity target Photo: Landspítali/Facebook. As reported by RÚV, more than 100 elderly patients are currently occupying hospital beds while waiting to be moved into nursing homes. As a result, the emergency department has seen record numbers of patients, with some being treated in corridors and meeting rooms. Earlier this year, Landspítali suggested increasing capacity by placing two residents in single rooms at nursing homes. However, Ms Þórðardóttir said the idea was unrealistic and inappropriate. The head of Læknafélag Íslands wrote in an article published by Vísir that nursing homes should be regarded as the private homes of their residents, and that placing strangers in their rooms is not very different from doing so in other homes across the country. Steinunn Þórðardóttir said that action is needed to address the shortage of nursing homes places and overcrowding at Landspítali. She added that it is inconceivable for the hospital to meet a 4 billion ISK austerity requirement under the current conditions, noting that the emergency department is designed for 36 patients, not 100.