Healthcare Staffing and Service Issues Plague Ourense and Surrounding Areas
Ourense and surrounding health centers are facing critical healthcare staffing shortages and service issues, leading to widespread discontent.
Key Points
- • The maternity ward relocation in Ourense was executed without union prior notice due to safety concerns.
- • Protests are ongoing in Catoira regarding the reduction of medical services and pediatric care.
- • Staffing shortages in health centers are leading to increased patient wait times and concerns over care standards.
- • Critics are calling for immediate improvements to address the deficiencies in public healthcare management.
The healthcare landscape in Ourense and its nearby centers continues to face significant challenges, chiefly due to staffing shortages and mismanagement within the regional health system. Issues escalated recently with the controversial relocation of the maternity ward from the Materno Infantil to the Hospital Xeral, a decision made hastily following a ceiling collapse at the original site on July 30, 2023. Unions and staff were not informed prior to the move, leading to numerous concerns about the adequacy of the new facilities to ensure patient privacy and safety. Health professionals have criticized this urgent action, emphasizing the negative impact on expectant mothers and the risks posed by inadequate separation between patients, thereby jeopardizing quality of care.