The debate article a few weeks ago, which was signed by 87 employees at BB in Malmö, describes, among other things, how newborns are no longer dried with soft washcloths and how the work environment has deteriorated.
S therefore requests that Minister of Health Elisabet Lann (KD) and the chairman of the regional board in Skåne, Moderate Carl Johan Sonesson, come to the Riksdag's Social Affairs Committee to explain themselves.
"The cards need to be put on the table; what does it really look like in maternity care?" says Lena Hallengren, group leader for S in the Riksdag, at a press conference.
Responsibilities of regions
Both Lann and Sonesson have been summoned to parliament because financing of maternity care is largely the responsibility of the regions, but to some extent also depends on government subsidies. Targeted government subsidies for maternity care and women's health have been reduced by 600 million to approximately 1 billion kronor this year.
The Minister of Health explains the reduction by saying fewer children are being born and that the government has prioritized funding for other areas such as cancer care and mental health, after reviewing an evaluation from the Swedish Agency for Health Care Analysis.
"They note that the majority of women's disease burden is not related to these women-specific diseases but lies in other areas, which lead to significantly more sick leave among women," says Elisabet Lann.
“Political theater”
She says S's actions are "political theater," noting that Lena Hallengren, when she was Minister for Social Affairs, also cut funding for maternity care.
Lann referred questions about the working situation at BB in Malmö to those responsible in the region.
"I don't question their experience at all. I know that many people are having a really tough time, but I have also visited a number of maternity wards where staff say there is actually a little less pressure due to fewer births," says Lann.
