Doctor Attack

A doctor at our local medical centre was punched several times, and his computer screen and keyboard smashed with a hammer by an angry local man on the 1st of July… just too late for last month’s edition to report.
Those of us who have been to the local medical centre in the village are all aware of its shortcomings, such as the lack of an administrator, the ‘hit-and-miss’ numbers system with no appointments. There is also hours of sitting around while elderly ladies, without a number, who convince everyone to allow them to ask “just one quick question” of the doctor before the next person goes in… Of course, the question inevitably ends up as a 15-minute consultation, and a quick chat about a brother’s similar condition in 1957, which resulted in the amputation of a foot!
Having said all this, the many staff and doctors my wife and I have seen over the past few months have been nothing but kind, patient and professional, leaving us more than satisfied with the treatment received… the problem is, of course, the system of administration surrounding these dedicated professionals, which can only be described as, at best, inadequate.
These shortcomings, which I have reported on before, came to a head on the 1st of July when a 28-year-old man, accompanied by his wife, burst into the doctor’s surgery demanding a prescription for his mother-in-law (you have to imagine me here, trying hard not to slip in a quick mother-in-law illness joke… sorry). Not satisfied with the response of the doctor, he proceeded to smash the computer keyboard and screen with a hammer, and following a stream of abuse, punched the doctor several times.
The man fled the scene prior to the arrival of Guardia Civil officers, but was later arrested.
There was a show of solidarity against this type of violence against health workers the following day outside the Almuñécar health centre, which was attended by over 100 people, including the Mayor, members of local government as well as doctors and staff from around the area, as this is the second such attack in as many months.

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