Workers unions, the UGT, the CCOO the CSIF and the SATSE at the Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves in Granada have expressed their profound concern over the situation in the Hospital.
“This is a situation that we have been pointing out for some time without any response from the Hospital Management,” reads the combined communiqué.
The unions, which represent all hospital workers between them, have called for drastic action from the hospital-management team or for them to be replaced.
“The lack of foresight, scarce hiring of staff throughtout the year, which has worsened with the onset of summer, and the inappropriately named, Vacations Plan (whose only action is to close hospital beds) the drop in surgical operations and the increasing trend to send patients to be treated by the private sector, are is directly comprimising patient care and the mental & physical health of both patients and staff,” continues the communiqué.
According to the unions, the lack of hospital beds and staffing is blocking hospital amittance and placing staff into a “chronic overload.” They say that A&E has already collapsed under the strain with patients waiting up to 72 hours on gurneys or wheelchairs.
Hospital wards are closed down for up to three months, depening on the unit; i.e., until September the 30th, and outpatient appointments at the hospital and medical centres are being reduced, which, the unions point out, means that the sick are flocking to the A&E, which has to assume a greater load even while having to deal with staff shortages in the department.
Editorial comment: there is always plenty of money for politicians’ salaries and their holidays in the regional administrations across the country but never enough money to hire badly needed staff at our hospitals. There is no shortage of trained doctors and nurses. Many without work in Spain, head abroad where their training is appreciated.
(News: City & Metropolitan Area, Granada, Andalucia)
Keywords: Staff Shortages, A&E Overloaded, Wards Closed, Workers Unions, Surgical Operations, Outpatents, Hospital, Medical Centre, Private Medical Sector
news, andalucia, granada, city & metropolitan area, staff shortages, A&E overloaded, wards closed, workers unions, surgical operations, outpatients, hospital, medical centre, private medical sector