The Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket) has ordered Vännäs Health Center to pay a fine of 150,000 kronor if working conditions are not improved by the end of May, according to a report from SVT Västernorrland. The decision comes after nurses at the health center reported being stressed, exhausted, and overworked.
District nurse Nadja Lind described the situation, stating, "You can only endure up to a certain limit." Staff have raised alarms about high short-term absenteeism and workload, with unclear communication and inadequate staffing levels cited as key problems. Measures taken so far have reportedly had negative effects, and a meeting with management did not go well, according to the Work Environment Authority's decision.
You can only endure up to a certain limit.
While the situation has reportedly improved somewhat, the workload remains high due to accumulated care deficits built up over a long period. Lind noted that for many months, staff have been unable to work with their specialties, as this was paused during the implementation of a new journal system.
Management at the health center declined interview requests but stated in an email to SVT that new journal systems, care systems, and administrative systems have increased the burden. They have reportedly been working hard on the work environment since 2025, with the goal of ensuring everyone has a good work environment at Vännäs Health Center.
Changes need to happen on many levels. But the big problem in primary care is that the mission grows, but we don't get more staff. Sometimes it feels like we would need to be twice as many.
Lind highlighted broader issues in primary care, stating, "Changes need to happen on many levels. But the big problem in primary care is that the mission grows, but we don't get more staff. Sometimes it feels like we would need to be twice as many."