Conserns about decoration costs

Voices of concern about the decoration costs at St. Olavs Hospital have been raised in the regional newspaper Trønder-Avisa (Steinkjer). – Unnecessary spending, according to Robert Eriksson of the Norwegian Progress Party.

31. May 2012 14:25 31. May 2012 14:30

Floor art in the The Old Main (1902-bygget)

Another voice of concern is Øystein Bjørnes, chair of the health service-user organisation in Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, who does not see the need to spend so much money on art and decoration (a total of 60 million NOK - approximately 0, 5 percent of the total budget for the development of St. Olavs Hospital, editor’s note).

- I do not think that people who experience a crisis are very concerned about the art on the walls, but rather on functionality, accessibility and hygiene. The biggest provocation might be the six million NOKs spent on a British artist, he says.
- How would you have spent 60 million? Trønder-Avisa wants to know.

- I would have done more for relatives and next-of-kin. It is challenging in its own right when so many services are gathered in one place at St. Olavs Hospital. Parking is one thing, but the patient hotel probably costs one thousand a night as well. Then it is your wallet that makes the decision of whether you can come along as next-of-kin, Bjørnes says.