HUS year 2024 - Review by the Chair of the Executive Board: Economic challenges marked the entire year – operational efficiency must continue with current resources
HUS experienced a challenging year in 2024. In the fall, the first co-operation negotiations involving the entire organization in HUS’s history were completed, and the economic situation was difficult both in HUS and in Finland as a whole.
The co-operation negotiations went peacefully as a whole and in good cooperation with HR Management, although, of course, the situation was difficult for many individuals. In 2024, many updates were made to the service network, and especially the discussion on childbirth services in Lohja was strongly reflected on the board’s agenda. Despite the difficulties experienced in many issues, they were handled well together with the personnel and HUS management.
Now HUS needs to look to the future. Development and improvement efforts must continue. We need to find ways to increase hospital productivity with existing resources. Leveraging AI and digital methods, as well as improving Apotti’s functioning are key themes that stand out increasingly.
Safeguarding research remains important also in the future
The Joint Authority Executive had to make slight cuts to HUS research funding in 2024. However, securing research opportunities is important also in the future. Medicine as a field evolves constantly and we need even more partnership thinking in research, for example, with companies and wellbeing services areas.
During the year, the significance of the HUS administrative committees also became more concrete. In particular, the Committee for Research, Education, Development and Innovation and the Committee for Locally Accessible Services and Integration have made many good proposals to the Joint Authority Executive.
The efforts to improve operational efficiency together with personnel must continue
Financial challenges will continue in 2025 and streamlining operational efficiency with existing resources is essential. We need to keep in mind what HUS’s core task is and how to best implement it. We must also have the courage to make changes.
The key issue is to better address ideas proposed by the personnel. This is a challenge for all large organizations. It is important to continue engaging the personnel even better and to create opportunities for them to have a stronger impact on operational development.
Risto Rautava
Chair of the Executive Board at HUS Group
Updated: 04.04.2025