The maternity ward at Lycksele hospital will be closed for about two weeks from December 23 to January 7, according to a press release from Region Västerbotten.
The hospital has failed to find temporary staff for the Christmas and New Year's holidays.
"It's extremely sad that we once again have to inform the inland residents that we will be closed over the Christmas holidays", comments Anna-Lena Renström, head of operations at the Centre for Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Västerbotten.
Pregnant women who are due to give birth during this period will be referred to the maternity wards in Skellefteå and Umeå instead.
The maternity ward in Lycksele has had problems with stable staffing for a long time, which has made it difficult to stay open all year round.
