Psychiatric care and school in Ålesund

The latest Møre og Romsdal news from the past 48 hours: Helse Møre og Romsdal has decided not to close one of the district psychiatric centres in Molde and Kristiansund, a decision met with emotion by staff. In Ålesund, the future of the avdeling for tospråkleg undervisning, which serves about 300 pupils, is being discussed as part of the municipal budget. Tingvoll’s swimming pool remains closed after Legionella was detected.

Møre og Romsdal news: psychiatric care and education

On Tuesday 27 October, Helse Møre og Romsdal decided not to close one of the district psychiatric centres (DPS) in Molde and Kristiansund. According to NRK Møre og Romsdal, employees reacted in tears to the announcement. The report appeared under the headline “Droppar omstridde kutt i psykiatrien – tilsette gret av glede”. The service is being retained following a campaign against cuts presented as disputed in mental health care. The regional report gives no further details about the timetable or funding.

In Ålesund, the proposed closure of the avdeling for tospråkleg undervisning, the schools’ bilingual education service, is included in next year’s municipal budget proposal. About 300 pupils could be affected, according to NRK Møre og Romsdal. Teachers are opposing the proposal and believe it would have significant consequences. The source does not specify the languages concerned or the amount of the planned savings. The case still has to be reviewed as part of the municipal budget.

Public health: Legionella and emergency responses

Tingvoll municipality has closed its swimming pool after Legionella bacteria were found in the shower system. “To safeguard users’ health, the pool is closed until further notice,” the municipality wrote on its website, according to NRK Møre og Romsdal. The closure is a precautionary measure while the municipality conducts investigations and takes the necessary action. Legionella can be transmitted by inhaling water droplets, particularly from showers and other installations. The pool will reopen only once it has been documented that the facility can be used safely. Aura Avis first reported the case, according to NRK Møre og Romsdal.

In Molde, Romsdals Budstikke published on Tuesday 27 October the account of parents who waited several hours for a response after their son suddenly became ill. The regional newspaper says Molde’s legevakt answered the questions asked. The headlines provide no figure for the number of patients affected or any possible measures. The issue concerns response times at local emergency services, a recurring theme in the newspaper’s columns.

Economy and infrastructure

An Økokrim operation targeted a fish-receiving business owned by interests in Ålesund and located in Finnmark. An unknown number of people were arrested after a large-scale operation conducted on Tuesday at several sites across the country, NRK Møre og Romsdal reports. Those arrested are suspected of deliberately and systematically recording their fish catches incorrectly. The source does not identify the companies or give the exact number of people involved.

Construction of the Stad sea tunnel has entered its demolition phase. On Monday, machinery entered the village of Kjøde to demolish buildings on the route, according to NRK Møre og Romsdal. The work is expected to last about five years. The tunnel will be about 50 metres high and 36 metres wide. It is intended to provide sailors with a safer crossing of Stadhavet. Sveinung Nedregotten of Kystverket describes it as an important milestone. The project is reported by NRK Møre og Romsdal.

In Ålesund, Sunnmørsposten reported on Tuesday 27 October that a local company had gone bankrupt. The headline does not give the company’s name or the number of jobs affected. The same day, the newspaper discussed a long-running dispute over a contract, maintenance and tolls. These remain short economic reports, with no details on the amounts or the parties involved.

📌 Local briefs

A man convicted of murdering Sigrid Giskegjerde Schjetne told the Sunnmøre court on Tuesday that he is in much better health than before. The prosecution believes there is still a risk of further offences and seeks to maintain the compulsory psychiatric care measure (NRK Møre og Romsdal).

A man sentenced in 2024 to five and a half years in prison for aggravated rape of a young child is suspected of further sexual offences. He is alleged to have detained and shared online material depicting child sexual abuse, according to the Nordmøre og Romsdal district court’s decision to remand him in custody (NRK Møre og Romsdal).

Sources: NRK Møre og Romsdal, Sunnmørsposten, Romsdals Budstikke, The Local Norway — Period: 27 October 2026 and 28 October 2026