Large increase in FTEs in health centres and school health services

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The number of full-time equivalents (FTEs) in health centres and school health services has increased by just over 9 per cent from 2015 to 2016. Nurses, midwives and physiotherapists have seen a particular increase. Around NOK 3.5 billion was spent on these services in 2016.

There was a total of 4 900 FTEs (man-years) in health centres and school health services in 2016. This is an increase of over 400 from 2015, or about 9 per cent. Half of the FTEs in 2016 were provided by public health nurses. The main reason for the large increase is more public health nurses and other nurses in the services. FTEs for other nurses increased by almost one third between 2015 and 2016.

Figure 1 FTEs (man-years) in the health centres and school health service by education, absolute figures

2015 2016
Without professional education 332 339
Other professional education 457 519
Physicians 210 214
Physiotherapists 202 229
Midwives 323 362
Other nurses 505 669
Public health nurses 2469 2587

Municipal differences in FTEs

Health centres and school health services are a municipal health service. This means that an increase in FTEs at the national level does not necessarily benefit children, young people or parents in all municipalities. A review of FTEs at municipal level shows that about 60 per cent of all municipalities had an increase in FTEs between 2015 and 2016, while 40 per cent had a decline or no change. Small municipalities in particular have experienced a decrease in FTEs.

The large increase in FTEs can also be seen in the increase in expenses for health centres and school health services. Around NOK 3.5 billion was spent on the service in 2016, which is an increase of approximately 11 per cent from 2015. Salary expenses account for 85 per cent of the total expenses for this service in 2016.

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