FREE
www.costablancapeople.com
CostaBlancaPeople 16th - 22nd May 2023
16TH - 22nd MaY 2023 - ediTion 992
Tel: 607 031 113 | claire@costablancapeople.com | costablancapeople.com
1
Your Essential Weekly Read
Campaigners highlight bed shortage at Torrevieja Hospital Protesters have gathered outside Torrevieja Hospital to demand additional beds for the Torrevieja health department. The ‘Platforma por la Sanidad Publica y de Calidad’ led the protest to call on authorities to increase the number of beds in the hospital, so that it can at least reach the average ratio of beds per thousand inhabitants of the Valencian Community – which is 2.1 beds per 1,000 residents. Representatives from the platform explained that the Torrevieja health department provides services to nine municipalities and 12 population centres across the Vega Baja region. This is the second most populated area in the province of alicante, with 367,082 registered inhabitants. The region
has a high population density, with a proliferation of elderly residents and foreign citizens. one in three residents in the Torrevieja health department is 65 years and older, with half of SiP health card holders being non-Spanish. The Valencian Health Ministry says there are a total of 204,000 card holders in the department. according to the platform, the hospital currently has 274 beds, 29 more than before, but still insufficient to meet the needs of the region and an additional 166 beds are required to reach the regional average. Twenty-nine beds have been added since the hospital returned to public management in october2021. They pointed out that the
hospital’s shortage of beds puts stress on the entire hospital, and the emergency department is worst hit. The department receives the most significant occupancy of beds, leading to delayed treatments and interventions in scheduled consultations. The protesters called on authorities to ensure that urban growth is consistent with respect for green infrastructure and the provision of necessary services to the population. They urged all political groups to budget for the expansion of the hospital, which would result in an increase in the number of hospital beds needed to care for the population of the Torrevieja health department. Platforma spokesperson, eva de la Fuente, said the hospital had not kept pace with the rising population in the Torrevieja area.“ The population has more than doubled over the last 20 years and rises dramatically during the summer season,” she said. “The bed shortage puts extra strain across the whole hospital and is especially noticeable in the emergency department,” she added.