A severe shortage of ambulances in central Stockholm has triggered alarm among emergency staff, with only one ambulance available to cover a population of several hundred thousand people on Tuesday, July 23. The situation, described by personnel as unprecedented, exposes the ongoing crisis in Sweden’s emergency healthcare system.
According to Emil Skoglund, an emergency nurse and union representative at the Stockholm City ambulance station, “the situation has gone too far. The public needs to know.” He described a “normal day” with no major incidents such as a pandemic or natural disaster, yet emergency readiness was dramatically compromised.
Staff shortages and deteriorating work conditions
Stockholm County, home to nearly 2.5 million people, has about 30 ambulance stations. The downtown station usually covers key areas such as Norrmalm, Vasastan, Östermalm, and Kungsholmen, with at least three ambulances expected to be available at all times. However, only one was operational on Tuesday. If ambulances are dispatched from surrounding areas like Lidingö or Solna, those areas are left uncovered.
Skoglund attributes the crisis to a “perfect storm” of staff resignations, recruitment difficulties, and a worsening work environment. The issue has intensified since emergency medical services were returned to public management in 2024-2025. He reports that starting salaries have decreased, deterring new graduates from joining. “Many decline our offers and take better-paying jobs elsewhere in the region,” he said.
During Monday’s shift, Skoglund received three urgent SMS requests for extra coverage while on vacation. On that day, no ambulance was available to respond to a drowning alert in northern Stockholm.
Political response and public safety concerns
After Skoglund’s testimony reached the press, Stockholm regional authorities called an emergency meeting to address the situation. As of publication, no official response has been released.
The incident has reignited debate about the state of public healthcare in Sweden, particularly the pressure on frontline services. Although ambulance crews routinely support other districts in case of need, the growing frequency of understaffed shifts is raising serious public safety concerns.
The Stockholm ambulance crisis illustrates broader challenges facing the Nordic model of healthcare, long praised for its universalism and equity. The events of this week underscore how these principles are being tested amid budget constraints, labour shortages, and rising urban demand.
