ARCHIVED - Five-hour delays at understaffed Denia Emergency Department
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
Doctors at the hospital in the Marina Alta, Alicante province, are treating up to 20 patients each
A shortage of staff at Denia Hospital has led to five hour delays in the emergency department, with doctors reportedly treating up to 20 patients each.
On Monday November 15, the lack of health professionals and "exhausted staff" became even more alarming in A&E, according to union representatives, when two doctors "suddenly went on sick leave" and couldn't be replaced due to a shortage of human resources.
"This led to patient waits of between three and five hours and a generalised exhaustion of the doctors," claimed the Union of Public Assistance Doctors (SIMAP-PAS), adding that the problem worsened as the day progressed, with Monday being the busiest day in the emergency department.
The union explained that until midday, there were only five doctors (there is normally a minimum of seven) and over the following three hours, staff levels dropped to just four doctors.
"The three professionals on the floor, as the fourth was in observation, had to attend to an average of 20 patients each. In the evening, things continued with only three doctors.
The union has warned that the situation is adding to the workload and psychological pressure on staff with many of them considering leaving the health department "due to the historical drain on resources over the last few years".
"An adequate workforce should have been able to cope with two unexpected absences such as those that occurred, but this has not been the case, which is a reflection of a short and depleted workforce. It is unacceptable to have people waiting up to five hours for treatment because a couple of members of staff have gone off sick," said SIMAP-PAS, pointing out that "staff are also so tired that they can't even work overtime to replace their colleagues".
According to the union, continuous collapses in A&E at Denia Hospital have "characterised the management by Marina Salud", and the situation hasn't improved much "in this new business phase in which the Ribera Group has taken full control of the concessionaire".
It's claimed the only solution being offered by the management is to transfer doctors from one shift to another, a move which the union argues is simply a "stopgap".
"What is needed is to increase the medical staff to respect both the labour rights of the professionals and the care rights of the patients of the Marina Alta."
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