Speeding up access to treatment
In Finland, people’s faith in healthcare has diminished, in particular when it comes to access to treatment. Wellbeing services counties must counterbalance government policy stating that it is reasonable to expect people to wait three months to see a doctor. We believe that every Finn must be able to trust that they will get the treatment they need, when they need it, regardless of their bank balance.
Prevention of illness must be a cornerstone of all healthcare. For this reason, the focus point of social welfare and healthcare services must shift to preventive and basic-level services. Rapid access to treatment helps prevent illnesses from worsening and reduces the need for more expensive services. Care must be taken to ensure functional collaboration between municipalities and wellbeing services counties, so that no one falls through the gaps.
We will retain the two-week limit for access to non-urgent treatment in primary healthcare. Dental healthcare treatment must be accessible within three months.
The personal doctor and personal nurse model must be implemented in primary healthcare. When a patient always sees the same working pair of an assigned doctor and nurse, and if necessary other professionals as part of the same team, the quality of care and patient satisfaction levels improve and costs decrease.
Rapid access to primary healthcare is also key to effective mental health services. Initial mental health services online must be available and easy to access for everyone. Identification of mental health problems in other parts of the care system must be improved in all wellbeing services counties in accordance with the Terapiat etulinjaan front-line therapies model. This will help ensure people have rapid access to the support and help they need.
Accessibility of services and access to care must be made more effective in all wellbeing services counties by introducing mobile services, remote appointments, and digital services that are operational 24/7. Patient-friendly online appointment booking must be widely adopted throughout the provision offered by wellbeing services counties. The exclusion of elderly people and those with poor digital skills will be prevented by also ensuring traditional, in-person appointments or phone options are available, as well as guiding people in how to use digital services.
- Patients must be able to access non-urgent care within two weeks throughout Finland.
- The personal doctor and personal nurse model must be adopted in primary healthcare.
- Digital mental health services for issues big and small must be increased.
- Identification of mental health problems during treatment for other conditions must be improved.
- Mobile services, remote appointments and digital services available 24/7 must be introduced in every wellbeing services county.
- Online appointment booking must be widely adopted throughout wellbeing services counties’ provisions.