– Now the right has said that they are considering motions of no confidence, we take that very seriously. We will consider this thoroughly in the party now, says group leader in Rødt Oslo, Siavash Mobasheri, to TV 2.
On Thursday, the Conservative, Liberal and People’s Party (FP) announced in the Oslo City Council that they will consider no confidence in health councilor Robert Steen (Ap).
Now several parties say to TV 2 that they will consider the same.
Requires a new elderly policy
The reason is the conditions that have been uncovered at Ullern health centre. There, relatives talk about a lack of care, low staffing and employees who do not come when they call. This has led to patients being left alone in the room for a long time, often in their own faeces, before someone has come to help, reports NRK.
This has caused strong reactions in Oslo City Council, which has called for a consultation on the health centers in the municipality on 30 January.
– Is the matter so serious that it could bring down the city council?
– In theory, it is. But if a new city council continues with the same policy as is being pursued today, motions of no confidence have no meaning. We need to bring about some political changes that mean that older people in Oslo gain dignity. That is what is most important to us. If the city council does not agree with this, we must consider a motion of no confidence, says Mobasheri.
SERIOUS: Rødt politician Siavash Mobasheri, here at Rødt’s election vigil in 2021, is shaken by the health center issues. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle/ NTB
– System failure
All the opposition parties in the city council must vote for motions of no confidence in order for the health council to have no confidence in them.
On Friday, both Oslo Frp and Danny Chaudhry (FMB) say to TV 2 that they will join the Conservative Party, Liberal Party and FP’s assessment.
– There have been so many serious revelations now that it paints a picture of systemic failure in care for the elderly in Oslo. Through the consultation we are going to have and the investigations that we believe we must have in the care of the elderly in Oslo, it is right that there is already mistrust on the table, says Lars Petter Solås of the Oslo FRP.
Solås believes it is difficult to believe that Robert Steen has not been aware of the conditions for some time.
– We need an answer as to whether Steen has done something and enough to prevent the conditions in the health centres, he says.
DISTRUST ON THE TABLE: Lars Petter Solås in the Oslo FRP joins the ranks of politicians who are already talking about distrust of the health board. Photo: Lage Ash / TV 2
City council politician Danny Chaudhry (FMB) has no doubts about the severity.
– Of course, I will assess whether this is a matter that triggers mistrust. When the city council or the city council are unable to follow up that the job is done, then I will cooperate with the Conservative Party and the parties that consider no confidence, says Chaudhry.
Expect new course
The Christian People’s Party (KrF) and the Center Party in Oslo expect clear answers from the health city council during the upcoming hearing.
– We do not want to assess no confidence before the hearing next Monday, but we understand that the other parties are reporting it, says group leader in Oslo KrF, Karoline Grosås Nordbø.
Group leader in Oslo Sp, Morten Edvardsen, believes the health center revelations are a predicted disaster, and that the entire model must be revised.
– There are serious matters that have come to light, but we must give the city council an opportunity to answer for what he has done and assess whether we think it is sufficient, says the SP politician, but:
– Ultimately, this is the city council’s responsibility. He must take that if it turns out that he has not had control, says Edvardsen.
Full confidence
City council leader Raymond Johansen says he has full confidence in Robert Steen.
– Now the opposition has called for a hearing on this topic, and I think it is funny that they are rattling with distrust before they have asked their questions and received answers during the hearing, says Johansen.
TV 2 was not able to get a comment from Steen on Friday, but on Thursday the health council assured that they are working to expand the services for the elderly.
– This year alone we are opening three brand new nursing homes in Oslo. Two of them are being built as villages. These village nursing homes are primarily designed for people with cognitive impairment or dementia, Steen said.
