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Swedish psychiatric units to merge, cutting 13 beds

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Key Points
  • Two psychiatric units in Västerås will merge for eight weeks, cutting 13 care beds.
  • The merger involves patients with similar conditions like depression and anxiety, including some with substance abuse.
  • Officials state patient safety will not be affected, following criticism of a previous merger last summer.

Two psychiatric units in Västerås, Sweden, are set to be merged this year, resulting in a reduction of 13 care beds. The units, 97 and 95, will be combined for eight weeks and will handle patients with similar conditions such as depression, anxiety, and other affective disorders, including some with substance abuse issues. According to Patrik Kalander, the acting operations manager, the patients being merged this year have similar symptoms and illnesses, and patient safety will not be affected, ensuring those needing hospital care will receive it.

This follows criticism of a previous merger last summer that combined units for young women with self-harm behavior and addiction patients, which reportedly upset staff and patients, leading to a new model this year.

the patients being merged this year have similar symptoms and illnesses, and patient safety will not be affected, ensuring those needing hospital care will receive it

Patrik Kalander, acting operations manager

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