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Date Published: 29/07/2022
ARCHIVED - Orihuela Costa will have a 24-hour ambulance service after government U-turn
The Valencia government threw out proposals for an extension to the emergency resources put forward last year
Orihuela Costa will once again have a 24-hour Urgent Medical Assistance Service (SAMU) after the Valencian government U-turned on a previous decision to throw out proposals for an extension to emergency services put forward by the neighbourhood association Avoca.
Last August, Orihuela Costa en Acción attempted to take advantage of the opening of the new Orihuela Costa Emergency Centre, and requested a 24-hour SAMU base at the facility.
But despite massive support, the bid was rejected by the region’s Ministry of Health, which claimed an extension was "unfeasible", and that the current cover from Torrevieja and Pilar de la Horadada, both within 12km of Orihuela Costa, was sufficient.
The proposal had full backing from Orihuela Council, which demanded that the health department provide an extended ambulance provision, stating that the regional government was not "taking into account the basic health needs of the residents of Orihuela".
Also read: Vega Baja Hospital in Orihuela set to undergo 70M euro extension
Less than 12 months later, in a significant win for the town, the decision has now been revoked. Following a plenary meeting this week, Orihuela's Councillor for Emergencies, Guillermo Cánovas, announced that the Costa will once again have the SAMU Vega 4 Orihuela Costa round-the-clock service.
Currently the service is only provided for 12 hours, from 9.30am to 9.30pm.
"We are once again recovering an essential service for Orihuela Costa. This service was affected by the hardest cuts experienced, in our community and country, in education and health carried out between 2012 and 2013. The SAMU was one of the cuts going from 24 to 12 hours," said Cánovas.
The service will be put into operation as soon as the Regional Ministry of Health transport contract, which is currently in the bidding process, is approved.
Once operational, the SAMU Vega 4 Orihuela Costa 24-hour service will have a doctor, nurse, and a driver.
A similar bid to secure extra emergency service ambulances in Calpe was also rejected last year.
Now read: Orihuela bars and restaurant opening hours extended for summer
Image: Archive
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