Hurtigruten 4 crew test positive

[Captain_Morgan]

Controversial medical practice

More than 50 people are now infected with the coronavirus after being on board "Roald Amundsen".

Director of Hurtigruten, Daniel Skjeldam, has always said that they have made their decisions based on the medical assessments from the medical team on board the ship.

The ship had two doctors on board. The Norwegian doctor was hired on a contract, and a doctor and two nurses from the Philippines on a contract through a staffing agency, according to Hurtigruten.

The Norwegian doctor was last deprived of his authorization in 2007, according to documentation NRK has obtained through access to the Norwegian Board of Health.

But health personnel can apply to get the authorization back, which the doctor received in January 2008. As mentioned earlier, the doctor has also received several warnings from the Norwegian Board of Health, and last received a warning in 2015.

He tells NRK that he has only been deprived of the authorization once.

NRK has received information from the Norwegian Board of Health that the doctor was deprived of authorization in 1996 and in 2007.

When NRK on Thursday asks the Norwegian doctor if Hurtigruten has been informed of previous loss of authorization, he says:

- I have not lost the authorization twice. It has absolutely nothing to do with this. It is inappropriate to pull this in, says the ship's doctor to NRK. He repeatedly encourages contact with Hurtigruten.

Key words for the background for the warnings he has previously received, and that his authorization has been withdrawn: incomplete, inadequate record keeping and indefensible medical activities.

According to the Norwegian Board of Health, the Norwegian doctor has on occasion provided health assistance beyond what he is qualified for.

According to the infection control plan for "Roald Amundsen", the doctor responsible for the vessel is responsible for requesting a coronal test, if someone becomes ill.

On Thursday, Tromsø municipality also confirmed to NRK that the Philippine doctor on board did not have Norwegian authorization.

NRK has several times tried to ask Hurtigruten which of the doctors was responsible, in line with the infection control plan, but has so far not received an answer.

[mercury7289]

2 minutes ago, Captain_Morgan said:

Controversial medical practice

More than 50 people are now infected with the coronavirus after being on board "Roald Amundsen".

Director of Hurtigruten, Daniel Skjeldam, has always said that they have made their decisions based on the medical assessments from the medical team on board the ship.

The ship had two doctors on board. The Norwegian doctor was hired on a contract, and a doctor and two nurses from the Philippines on a contract through a staffing agency, according to Hurtigruten.

The Norwegian doctor was last deprived of his authorization in 2007, according to documentation NRK has obtained through access to the Norwegian Board of Health.

But health personnel can apply to get the authorization back, which the doctor received in January 2008. As mentioned earlier, the doctor has also received several warnings from the Norwegian Board of Health, and last received a warning in 2015.

He tells NRK that he has only been deprived of the authorization

On Thursday, Tromsø municipality also confirmed to NRK that the Philippine doctor on board did not have Norwegian authorization.

NRK has several times tried to ask Hurtigruten which of the doctors was responsible, in line with the infection control plan, but has so far not received an answer.

Unbelievable! yet still a side issue.

Thank you

[Eddie99]

Oh dear - But, as Mercury says, something of a side issue.

 

Would you want to work in the sick bay of a cruise ship with Covid, if you were a medical professional?  It certainly changes the picture from looking after the health of, say, 5000 generally well pax and crew pre-Covid.  I would say it is a pretty perilous occupation 😕

 

So - you’re likely not to find the best professionals, just those who can’t get other positions.  Oh dear

[No pager thank you]

It's things like this that as a passenger you have to take for granted. 

 

No one would get on to a cruise ship (pandemic or no pandemic) if they didn't believe that there was a competently run medical facility on board.  However, as a lay passenger, you wouldn't possibly know either way if what you saw as a service, with staff, was up to scratch.

 

If these basic gaps in training and authorisation turn out to be true, then severe action needs to be taken against the company - this is just completely unacceptable. 

 

It also makes it harder for other cruise lines who may be asked more questions about their credentials in this area, which previously would not have been asked by passengers, frequently if at all.

[Adawn47]

3 hours ago, Eddie99 said:

Oh dear - But, as Mercury says, something of a side issue.

 

Would you want to work in the sick bay of a cruise ship with Covid, if you were a medical professional?  It certainly changes the picture from looking after the health of, say, 5000 generally well pax and crew pre-Covid.  I would say it is a pretty perilous occupation 😕

 

So - you’re likely not to find the best professionals, just those who can’t get other positions.  Oh dear

My friend had a bad kidney problem on the way back to Southampton while on Ventura. She couldn't praise the medical staff highly enough.

Avril 

[jeanlyon]

Yes I had he same experience.  Severe attack of diverticulitis one day out of Newfoundland.  The doctor and medical staff were wonderful.  I was on a drip for 2 days and by day 3, I had recovered. 

[zap99]

36 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

My friend had a bad kidney problem on the way back to Southampton while on Ventura. She couldn't praise the medical staff highly enough.

Avril 

I had pneumonia on Ocean Village. Medical care was first class and I got 2000 airmiles when I paid the bill. 🚢😂

[Adawn47]

18 minutes ago, zap99 said:

I had pneumonia on Ocean Village. Medical care was first class and I got 2000 airmiles when I paid the bill. 🚢😂

Only you could come up smelling of roses 🌹😉

Avril 

[Captain_Morgan]

not surprisingly the numbers continue to increase...

 

https://www.fhi.no/en/news/2020/53-people-now-confirmed-with-covid-19-in-the-hurtigruten-cruise-outbreak2/

[davecttr]

On the Hurtigruten forum it is reported as 41 crew and 21 passengers as of today.