Lill Sverresdatter Larsen, leader of the Norwegian Nurses Association (NSF), said the decision basis is too focused on economics. According to NRK Troms og Finnmark, Larsen described the cuts as akin to 'cutting off a foot before running a marathon' and warned they could violate laws on professional responsibility and mandatory health services. She reported disturbing messages from employees about undignified conditions, including lack of time for basic care and sitting with dying patients. Larsen believes the solution is to strengthen management and wages to retain professionals, rather than across-the-board cuts.
Municipal director Ellen Beate Lundberg stated that the economic situation is so critical that there is no alternative to the cuts. According to NRK Troms og Finnmark, Lundberg said the municipality operates with money it does not have and has no buffers to increase the budget. She acknowledged that implementing cuts while the number of home care users increases is 'enormously demanding' and insisted the municipality must change work methods and assess which services are not legally mandated.