Heidi
Seppälä

The rescue services respond to emergencies such as fires, accidents, and natural disasters. In these situations, quick and effective action is vital to protect lives and property. The rescue services not only respond to emergencies but also prevent them. This includes fire inspections, safety training, and risk assessments, all of which reduce the risk and severity of accidents. Residents’ trust and sense of security are important for the well-being of society. Cutting resources for rescue services could weaken this trust and sense of security.

Maintaining services at regional local hospitals in Raasepori and Lohja is crucial for local communities. Firstly, local hospitals provide quick and easily accessible care, which is especially important in emergencies and urgent cases. This can save lives and reduce the risk of serious complications. Secondly, local hospitals support the local economy by providing jobs and attracting healthcare professionals to the area. Thirdly, local hospitals reduce the need for patients and their families to travel, which is particularly important for the elderly and those with mobility issues. Finally, the services of local hospitals promote community and trust in the healthcare system, improving overall well-being and health. For these reasons, it is important to maintain services at the local hospitals in Raasepori and Lohja.

This is important because it ensures that Swedish-speaking residents receive care in their native language, which improves the quality of care and patient satisfaction. Additionally, language bonuses can attract and retain bilingual staff, which is particularly important in areas with a large Swedish-speaking population. Digitalization and artificial intelligence offer significant opportunities to secure language in healthcare. For example, AI-based translation programs and chatbots can provide real-time translation assistance to healthcare professionals, facilitating communication with patients. Furthermore, digital health services, such as remote consultations and electronic health record systems, can offer multilingual interfaces, improving accessibility and patient experience. Utilizing these technologies can significantly enhance the availability and quality of Swedish-language services in the Western Uusimaa welfare area.

Increasing mobile services, such as health center buses and remote consultations, is important, especially in areas without public transportation or where people cannot travel far for care for various reasons. Health center buses can bring primary healthcare services directly to residents, improving accessibility to care and reducing the need for travel. This is particularly important for the elderly, people with disabilities, and those without their own car. Remote consultations, on the other hand, allow for consultations with doctors or nurses from home, saving time and effort and reducing the risk of infection. These services ensure that all residents receive the care they need, regardless of their location or mobility. Increasing mobile services promotes equality in healthcare and improves overall well-being.

Welfare areas should definitely increase investments in preventive healthcare, even if it means fewer resources for other types of care. Preventive healthcare, such as vaccinations, health check-ups, and health education, can significantly reduce the incidence and severity of diseases. This not only improves individuals’ quality of life but also reduces long-term healthcare costs by preventing diseases or detecting them at an early stage. Additionally, preventive measures can reduce the burden on hospitals and other healthcare services, allowing resources to be allocated more efficiently. By investing in prevention, welfare areas can create a more sustainable and healthier society.

A personal doctor knows their patients and their health conditions better, which allows for more individualized and effective care. This reduces duplicate examinations and medical errors, improves patient satisfaction, and creates a trusting doctor-patient relationship. Additionally, the personal doctor system can reduce the need for specialist care, as more issues can be handled within primary care. Although the implementation of the system requires initial investments, in the long run, it can lead to savings and improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare.

Firstly, the turnover of locum doctors can weaken the continuity of care and the trust in the patient-doctor relationship. Permanent staff know their patients’ health conditions and medical histories better, which allows for more individualized and effective care. Secondly, the use of locum doctors can be more expensive in the long run, as their fees are often higher than those of permanent staff. Thirdly, permanent staff can better commit to the work community and develop workplace practices and culture. However, the use of locum doctors can be justified in situations where waiting lists are long and no other solutions are available. In such cases, locum doctors can provide temporary relief and ensure that patients receive the care they need in a timely manner. This can prevent health problems caused by delayed care and improve patients’ well-being in the short term.

Increasing the number of shelters to help victims of violence is very important. In 2023, a total of 12,326 victims of domestic and intimate partner violence were reported in Finland, the majority of whom, over 8,353, were women. This underscores the need to increase the number of shelters to provide protection and support for victims of violence. Attitudes towards violence have changed in recent years, and awareness of the problem has increased. This has led to more victims seeking help and reporting the violence they have experienced. Increasing the number of shelters is essential to ensure that all those in need receive the necessary protection and support. Shelters provide a safe environment and professional support that helps victims recover from the violence they have experienced and build a new life. Additionally, increasing resources for shelters enables better preventive work and breaking the cycle of violence. In this way, we can promote the well-being and safety of society.

Increasing the use of service vouchers is an effective way to shorten waiting lists and improve access to services. Service vouchers give customers the opportunity to choose private service providers, which can speed up access to care and reduce the burden on public healthcare. This increases customer choice and can improve the quality of care as competition among service providers grows. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant waiting lists across Finland, and service vouchers can help effectively reduce these queues.

Centralizing care can be justified if it saves money or improves quality. By centralizing care, specialized resources and expertise can be utilized more effectively, leading to better treatment outcomes and reduced costs. For example, centralizing specialized care in large hospitals can improve the quality of care by having a broader network of experts and more advanced technology. Additionally, centralization can reduce redundancies and improve resource utilization, which can bring significant savings to the healthcare system. However, it is important to maintain local services so that everyone has access to care. Western Uusimaa is a large area with a lot of rural regions where there is no public transportation. Therefore, it is crucial that local services and especially preventive services are easily accessible. Quality is an important criterion, but so is the accessibility of services and the significance of preventive care. This way, we can ensure that all residents receive the care they need in a timely manner and close to their homes.

The rescue services respond to emergencies such as fires, accidents, and natural disasters. In these situations, quick and efficient action is vital to protect lives and property. The rescue services not only respond to emergencies but also prevent them. This includes fire inspections, safety training, and risk assessments, all of which reduce the risk and severity of accidents. Residents’ trust and sense of security are important for the well-being of society. Cutting resources for rescue services could undermine this trust and sense of security.

Undocumented individuals should have the right to non-urgent health and medical care because equality and humane treatment are fundamental rights that belong to all people. Healthcare is an essential part of a dignified life, and its availability should not depend on a person’s immigration status.

Healthcare personnel should be offered more training on gender and sexual diversity because equal treatment of all people is a fundamental right. Training helps staff understand and accept people’s diversity, creating a safer and more respectful environment for all patients. When healthcare personnel are aware and educated, they can provide better and more individualized care that takes into account each patient’s unique needs and experiences. This promotes patient well-being and builds trust in the healthcare system. By accepting everyone as they are, we can build a fairer and more equal society.