– I have felt disregarded and discriminated against, and that because of something I am neither to blame for nor can do anything about – my age, says Lars Kolsrud (74).
During his career, Kolsrud has worked as a doctor, sports doctor and specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This was until last year, when he retired. He was actually supposed to retire when he turned 70, which is the retirement age his former employer refers to. Therefore, he feels lucky that he was able to stay in his job until he was 72 years old, two years ago.
– I was allowed to stay longer because the pandemic hit and it was planned that I should participate in the Olympics in Beijing, he says.
Today, government employees retire when they reach the age of 70, although a doctor can have their authorization approved until they are 80 years old.
Kolsrud still felt that he had more to contribute to the healthcare system, even though he had retired. In a chronicle published in Tidsskrift for the Norwegian Medical Association, he told how the New Year’s speech from King Harald in 2023 left a mark on him.
– King Harald asked us all to enter the new year by saying: “What can I do for you?”. Then it struck me that I can’t actually offer to contribute with what I do best, namely work as a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation and as a sports doctor. This, in which I am trained and have gained more experience than most, someone has decided that I am not allowed to practice within the public healthcare system after the age of 72, he says.
Want to contribute
Kolsrud believes that it is precisely healthcare workers who have reached today’s retirement age who must be among the most competent and experienced in the industry. They are also the easiest to use as substitutes, extra help or as a useful competence resource, he believes.
Kolsrud has over several years been the national team doctor for gymnastics, RG, cycling, biathlon (2001-present), jumping, combined and skating. Doctor at eight Olympics from Seoul 1988 to Beijing 2022. (Private)
In 2023 there was a report from Nav which said that the health and care sector needs the most labour, and currently lacks 13,000 workers.
– Now that the healthcare system is short of personnel, it is extra important to think differently. It is completely understandable that you want people in full-time positions and not part-time, but there will still be a need for substitutes. And not least, we can act as a competence resource for the younger, newly employed doctors.
Dagsavisen has previously written about how the health care system is struggling with growing waiting lists and paying large sums for missing deadlines to the private players.
– Why can’t we older people be used to cover those gaps? When the retirement age is raised in a few years, we will have to do it anyway, he says.
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Can work in the private sector
The new pension settlement was adopted on 29 February this year. Today, government employees must stop working when they reach the age of 70. This age limit is raised to 72 years in the new settlement. The changes will be introduced from and including 2026.
– I have never felt discriminated against. I have been very lucky to be born in Norway and have done well at school, in sports and in life in general, but exactly that thing about “no, now you are 72 years old, so you can’t work anymore” is completely strange when you can still practice privately, he says and adds:
– It is a bit like telling someone who has driven a car all their life that they are not allowed to drive a car anymore, but can drive a truck instead.
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Pensioner-apprentice
Kolsrud sees himself as a “pensioner-apprentice”, who is practicing being a pensioner.
– I work two days a week at Kostholdsendring AS and work on commission. This is how I decide my everyday life myself. I enjoy both everyday life as a pensioner and my everyday life as a working person. It’s good to feel wanted and appreciated again, he says.
Kolsrud himself believes that he is in as good health now, at the age of 74, as he was when he was 70. Even if the new pension settlement has been finalized, an even higher retirement age should be considered for those who have the health to do so, also in public sector, says the pensioner.
– This is how you can do something about the personnel shortage in the healthcare system, and at the same time give a better life to those who want and have the health to stay at work longer. And it must happen now, before it’s too late, concludes Kolsrud.
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