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Staff fired at lunch as Stockholm psychiatric clinics for young adults abruptly close
🇸🇪 Sweden /Health & Science

Staff fired at lunch as Stockholm psychiatric clinics for young adults abruptly close

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Two psychiatric clinics for young adults in Stockholm, operated by Wemind and Prima, abruptly closed, leading to the dismissal of staff during a lunch break.
  • Hundreds of patients were discharged, raising fears among therapists that some may die due to the sudden lack of care.
  • The closures followed a low-bid procurement process, with concerns raised about patient safety and the adequacy of care provided by the new providers.

Staff at two psychiatric clinics for young adults in Stockholm were abruptly dismissed during a lunch break when the facilities, operated by Wemind and Prima, suddenly closed. The closures resulted in hundreds of patients being discharged, prompting grave concerns among mental health professionals.

I am afraid that patients will die.

— Christine HallPsychotherapist expressing fears for patient safety following clinic closures.

"I am afraid that patients will die," said psychotherapist Christine Hall, who was laid off from Wemind. She described the situation as poorly managed, with management presenting organizational changes by writing on a flip chart during a staff lunch. Hall, who has over 20 years of experience in psychiatry, noted that the young adult clinics served individuals aged 18 to 25, a vulnerable group often dealing with depression, anxiety, and psychosocial problems.

It was a layoff. It was so poorly managed.

— Christine HallDescribing the abrupt dismissal of staff at the psychiatric clinic.

The closures followed a procurement process where Wemind and Prima won contracts by bidding 20-30% lower than competitors. Wemind reportedly decided to close its operations as early as the spring, according to emails obtained by Dagens Nyheter. A parent whose daughter was being treated at Prima's clinic in Danderyd described the closure as a "bolt from the blue," receiving the news only that the doctor was leaving and with no information about future care. The parent contacted the region to highlight the deficiencies and patient safety risks.

You get notice that the doctor is going to leave, and then you don't know what will happen in a few weeks. For us, it came like a bolt from the blue – eventually, the therapists were forced to tell the patients.

— ParentDescribing the sudden and unclear communication regarding the closure of a psychiatric clinic.

Hall criticized the low-cost care model, stating, "What Wemind offers is low-cost care. This is a vulnerable group that you are actually abandoning now." She explained that many patients require more proactive outreach and support, as they may not seek help independently. The plan was for these young adults to transition to adult psychiatric services, but in Kista, the staff was halved, and personnel were instructed to discharge patients, particularly those whose treatment exceeded 18 months.

What Wemind offers is low-cost care. This is a vulnerable group that you are actually abandoning now.

— Christine HallCriticizing the quality of care provided by Wemind due to cost-cutting measures.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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