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Date Published: 06/10/2021
ARCHIVED - Protests outside Torrevieja Hospital over staff shortages
200 health professionals have been laid off, with unions warning of a decline in healthcare in the Vega Baja, Alicante province
Union representatives and health workers protested outside Torrevieja Hospital on Tuesday October 5 over the termination of 200 temporary workers' contracts which has led to a strip back of resources and closure of wards.
Under the slogan ‘You can’t play with health’, members of the CSIF union, SATSE, the Medical Union and USAE rallied against “the situation in which the Torrevieja health department has been left in” ahead of the region’s Ministry of Health taking over direct management on October 15.
They argue that, until then, private management company Ribera Salud – which terminated the temporary contracts – is responsible for “the recruitment necessary to provide quality care”.
They stressed that health professionals have been working "very hard for 15 years, because it is our vocation, and we will continue to do so regardless of who manages the health area”, but added that, “recently, we’ve had a great feeling of helplessness due to a lack of medical staff without anyone taking responsibility for it”.
They also slammed the “lack of collaboration” between the current private management company and the Ministry of Health.
Two hundred temporary workers have not had their contracts renewed – they expired on September 30 – meaning the number of physiotherapists has fallen from 14 to seven, there are half the number of social workers, three less ICU beds, and and surgery and maternity wards have also been closed.
“The emergency service has been reduced to the minimum staff; primary care has suffered a great reduction in the number of professionals; and specialist schedules have been closed,” warned the unions, adding: “This lack of staff may mean that care will not be maintained in the same way as it has been provided in the past.”
Ana Llinares, from CSIF union, said the regional government has been made aware of the worrying situation, and has requested a “full explanation” from Ribera Salud.
“As health professionals we believe that we have an obligation to warn the public that all these measures could lead to a poorer quality of healthcare than in other areas, as well as increasing waiting lists,” she explained, adding that in addition to the protest, letters were sent to all of the local authorities, warning them of the dire situation.
The unions “sincerely hope” that the 200 temporary workers who have been laid off “will be able to rejoin the Torrevieja Health Department” once management is handed back to the Ministry of Health.
Image: Archive/CCOO Hospital Torrevieja
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