HOSPITAL BED CUT RISK FOR SUMMER

As the Valencia region welcomed another two and a half million vehicle movements over the weekend, during the second major traffic operation of the summer, the 112 emergency coordination centre increased its ability to handle emergencies by 7.7%, in order to “meet as quickly and effectively as possibly, all calls that may occur, since a large number of journeys on our roads was expected due to the output operation and a greater presence of people on our beaches and mountains”, according to coordinator Irene Rodríguez.

However, the ability to deal with those incidents beyond the first response has once again been brought into question, as a syndicate of nursing unions reports that the region´s hospitals have lost 1,687 beds for the summer months, as part of a cost saving exercise.

In a statement, the unions explained that the bed closures occur “theoretically” at the lower workload time of year, the summer, but has also pointed out that in previous years some of the beds taken away have never returned, and the coastal zone in particular is busier during the summer than any other time of year.

The unions warn that saturation of tourists may mean that the reduction in beds and nursing staff may well lead to delays, backlog and even the possibility of emergency centres having to reopen to accommodate the sick.

With closures across the entire region, the province of Valencia has suffered the most cuts, losing 853 beds, whereas in Castellón the figure is 130. In the province of Alicante there are now 704 fewer beds, with the General Hospital of the city most affected, losing 202 beds, whereas Elche loses 64, Elda has lost 68, Torrevieja has lost 61, San Juan has 61 less and in Orihuela, the situation is much worse, with 150 beds being removed.

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/44487/

Home Insurance | Spanish Home Insurance | Home Insurance in Spain | Spanish Property | Costa Blanca Spanish Property | Spain Property | Euromillions | Euromillions Lottery Results