Access to non-urgent care at health stations

Assessment objective

The main question of the assessment was whether the availability of non-urgent care at all of Helsinki’s health stations is at the level provided for by law and the City’s own policies. The assessment examined whether contact with the care location has been established and the need for care assessed in accordance with the law and the City’s objectives and policies, and whether non-urgent care has been received in accordance with the law and the City’s objectives and policies, as well as in an equal manner.

Conclusions

Apart from a few exceptions, non-urgent care at Helsinki’s health stations is provided within the statutory deadlines but not in accordance with the City’s own policies or in an equal manner between areas. Individual cases of exceeding the 90-day waiting time occur annually – most of these at the health stations of the eastern area. There are very large differences in waiting times for realised appointments between health stations. The main reason access to non-urgent care at health stations is not realised equally between areas or in accordance with the City’s objectives is the shortage of doctors. The most important factors influencing the stability and availability of doctors are the workload, training opportunities and a salary that is able to compete with the municipalities around Helsinki.