Region Uppsala forms a holding company
In September 2023, the regional council decided that Region Uppsala would form a holding company with a sub-group. The proposal is that AB Uppsalabuss be placed as a holding company and that it be named Region Uppsala Holding AB.
At its meeting, the regional council approved the articles of association and ownership directive for Region Uppsala Holding AB. They also approved a share transfer agreement whereby Region Uppsala Holding AB acquires all shares in Gamla Uppsala buss AB and Upplands Lokaltrafik AB from Region Uppsala.
The purpose behind these decisions, where previously inactive companies also disappear, is to achieve a more efficient and clear ownership structure, reduce administrative work and achieve certain tax advantages.
New association rules for the municipal association Swedish Ambulance Aviation
At its meeting, the regional council approved a new association regulation for the municipal association Swedish Ambulance Flight, as well as a new distribution model for the municipal association’s funding (which applies from 2025).
Swedish Ambulance Aviation is a municipal association where all of Sweden’s 21 regions are members. The business coordinates and performs ambulance transport by airplane, and is in operation around the clock. Emergency bases are located in Umeå, Stockholm/Arlanda and Gothenburg/Landvetter. According to the new distribution model for financing, 70 percent is variable invoicing based on the number of flight hours. 30 percent is a contingency fee, which is calculated based on previous flight hours, population and geographical area.
For Region Uppsala, the new economic model has a marginally positive effect. The current model entails a cost for Region Uppsala of SEK 7.1 million, while the new model results in a cost of SEK 6.8 million.
Procurement of IT partners is initiated
Region Uppsala initiates a procurement of IT partners for “the sustainable and modern workplace”, this following a decision by the regional council.
An IT partner supplies Region Uppsala with things like computers, mobile phones and tablets. A supplier must also be able to recommend new products and solutions. As well as being able to take care of the products throughout their lifetime in a safe and proper way. This includes that the equipment is also reused or recycled in a sustainable way when it is no longer needed.
The current agreement expires at the end of December 2024. The value of the framework agreement is estimated at approximately SEK 100 million per year, over four years.
Motion on language skills was rejected
In February 2022, Christer Olsson (SD) and Johan Andersson (SD) submitted a motion which, among other things, proposed that a healthcare-adapted Swedish test be developed and implemented, and that a passed such test be required for employment.
The response states, among other things, that the regional board decided in November 2023 that knowledge of the Swedish language must be taken into account during recruitment, when it is deemed to be relevant for the position. And that Region Uppsala in 2024 should build up a region-wide support for those educated abroad. When a manager discovers that an employee is lacking in the language, this must be caught, and remedied within the framework of this support.
Due to these decisions, the regional council rejected the motion.
Research financial statements were approved
At its meeting, the regional council approved Region Uppsala’s research financial statements for the year 2023.
According to the Health and Healthcare Act, research is one of the core missions of the regions. For Region Uppsala, this applies to the highest degree, as a region with a university hospital. Region Uppsala collaborates with Uppsala University in the implementation of high-quality clinical research.
The results of the Swedish Research Council’s evaluation of clinical research in Sweden show that Region Uppsala and Uppsala University received the highest marks in two out of three areas reviewed by panels consisting of international researchers.
The research financial statements can be read in their entirety in the documents accompanying this mailing.
Quality accounts were approved
At its meeting, the regional council also approved the Quality Accounts for the health and medical services’ activities within Region Uppsala 2023.
The quality statement summarizes the quality work that has been carried out during 2023 within the region’s health care operations.
Region Uppsala has reduced its climate impact by 13 percent
At its meeting, the regional council approved Environmental Report 2023. Environmental Report 2023 follows up the environmental goals in the program for environment and sustainability 2023 – 2026. This year’s report shows, among other things, that out of 42 environmental goals, 24 are moving in the right direction, 11 are moving in the right direction but not fast enough and 7 going in the wrong direction. Region Uppsala has reduced the emissions of climate-affecting gases that can be measured by 13 percent in 2023, compared to 2022.
Annual report 2023 approved
At its meeting, the regional council approved the Annual Report 2023. Region Uppsala made, as previously announced, a zero result for the year 2023. However, this was only following SEK 716 million had been used from the profit equalization reserve (RUR).
Interpellations and questions answered
At the meeting of the regional council, an interpellation debate was held on the following topics:
- The completion of road 288
- The democratic mandate to attribute to the prime minister
- The importance of a safe healthcare center for society’s most vulnerable
- Home births and midwife-led unit
- The traffic bump in public transport
- The possibility for tourists to buy a ticket to Arlanda
- Summer closure of NÄVA sites in Tierp
- Care queues that require action
- The pressure on the penis
- About the share of the health care budget that goes to close care
- About TBE in the childhood vaccination programme
In addition, a question was asked regarding care for Ukrainian volunteers.
The interpellations and answers can be found in the documents for the meeting, see link below.