“Kostnadene skaper hysterisk latter og frykt – NRK Vestland”

• The name of "Helse Fonna helseføretak Haugesund sjukehus" was changed from just "Haugesund sjukehus" in 2002 when responsibility for hospitals was transferred from county councils to the state and organized as health enterprises.
• The government and the Socialist Left Party agreed on changing the names of health enterprises and hospitals in Norway to make them more understandable for the general public.
• Trond Blindheim, an expert in branding, criticized the name change as a waste of money and unnecessary.
• The cost of the name changes for health enterprises is unknown, but similar changes in other sectors have been expensive, ranging from 37.5 million to 330 million kroner.
• Some directors of hospitals, like Eivind Hansen of Helse Bergen, support the name change to emphasize the identity as a hospital and connect with the community.
• However, others, like Director Arve Varden of Helse Førde, question the use of funds for name changes when there are more pressing needs in patient care.

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