The trouble with being a nurse

There’s a lot of moaning going on in the UK press about junior doctors at the moment, but here’s a fun piece about this years job positions in the regional health service. A total of 9,881 people in Almería have applied to sit entrance exams for this years job positions in the regional health service SAS. Across the entire region of Andalusia, the regional government has posted a total of 3,282 job positions, of which Continue reading The trouble with being a nurse

Bedless hospital patients ‘hidden’ from view of health minister

Union CSIF has claimed that nurses in the main provincial hospital “Torrecardenas” were ordered last week to “hide” emergency patients who had been left on wheeled beds in corridors ahead of the visit of regional health minister Aquilino Alonso. The complaint says that “the sub-director of the hospital, together with the head of the Emergency department ordered staff to wheel at least seven patients for whom no beds were available into a storeroom away from Continue reading Bedless hospital patients ‘hidden’ from view of health minister

Mojacar decries chaos at medical centre

Mojacar townhall has said that the situation of “chaos” at the medical centre is unacceptable and is urging all unsatisfied patients to file a complaint at the desk there in order to force the health ministry to assign more doctors here. “There just aren’t enough doctors, nurses and staff for the busy summer season” lamented the townhall in a press release. “We need more staff to cope with the summer influx, and this year we Continue reading Mojacar decries chaos at medical centre

Andaluz Health Service looks for doctors with “reduced mental capacity”

The Junta de Andalucia has published an advert for 330 new doctors in Andalusia. Of these 330, 17 of them are reserved for people with a handicap of 33% or more. In essence, they are applying for doctors who have a recognised mental handicap such as autism or Asperger’s syndrome. The move has been met with ridicule by doctor and nurses unions, who point out that the complicated examinations required to become a doctor usually Continue reading Andaluz Health Service looks for doctors with “reduced mental capacity”

Fake paediatrician arrested in Vera health clinic

A paediatrician working for the Andalucian health service (SAS) in Vera has been arrested after his superiors discovered she had faked his medical qualifications and has since attempted suicide. D.R.C., born in Garrucha but raised elsewhere in Spain, returned to her home province some years ago and was accredited as a doctor by the SAS. She was assigned a post at Huercal Overa hospital, where she worked as a Resident doctor in the paediatrician ward, Continue reading Fake paediatrician arrested in Vera health clinic

Huercal Overa hospital sees all its surgeries closed – for good?

It seems that Huercal Overa Hospital is being turned into nothing more than a massive ward, as it hasn’t performed any surgeries for the last three months; and surgeons aren’t expected to return for the rest of this year. The PP have tabled a question in the regional parliament asking if the Andaluz Health Service intends to reopen the surgeries, which have been closed over the summer, in the new year, but no response has Continue reading Huercal Overa hospital sees all its surgeries closed – for good?

Information on health care requirements for UK residents during their temporary stay in Andalusia

The Junta de Andalucia and the British Council have issued a guide to British residents who are traipsing around Andalucia this year and fall down a crevasse, or foolishly eat the Russian salad at the beach bar, or otherwise fall into the hands of a doctor. It was obviously written by a non-native English speaker, but the information is none the less valid. People holding the European Health Insurance Card in force are entitled to Continue reading Information on health care requirements for UK residents during their temporary stay in Andalusia

Andalucian health service collapses under swine flu epidemic, boss quits

The head of the Andalucian health service has quit as his department recognises that hospitals across Andalucia are unable to deal with the flu epidemic. José Luis Gutiérrez, head of the SAS (Servicio Andaluz de Salud) handed in his notice with immediate effect this morning. He’s been running the show since April 2008. The Health Ministry of Andalucia have said that the resignation has nothing to do with the flu epidemic, but refused to speculate Continue reading Andalucian health service collapses under swine flu epidemic, boss quits

Free colon cancer tests for all 50 – 69 years old

The government has negotiated with all federal health services across Spain to include free colon cancer tests for all 50 – 69 year olds. From next month, anyone in that age group will be able to have a free screening test done on the health service every two year, via a simple stool sample. The same agreement between health services also continues with cervix cancer tests for all women between 25 and 69, every three Continue reading Free colon cancer tests for all 50 – 69 years old

Poniente hospital criticised for hiring temporary staff to replace downsized doctors – many of them the same people!

The Hospital del Poniente (in El Ejido) is in hot water after unions revealed that it has had to hire hundreds of temporary workers to replace downsized doctors fired due to the budget crisis. Amongst other “temporary” workers hired in recent weeks are specialists such as anesthesiologists, surgeons, ophthalmologists and trauma experts. Up to 50% of the worker in the building are currently temporary specialists hired short term, and many of them are the same Continue reading Poniente hospital criticised for hiring temporary staff to replace downsized doctors – many of them the same people!