The Councillor for Health, José Galiano, has responded to reports that patients from the Vega Baja Hospital have been referred to Villajoyosa. The Councillor said the news, reported in local media, that patients from the local hospital are being redirected further afield than necessary, had led to him making enquiries into the issue.
Councillor Galiano said: “Given the impact that it is having on the citizens of our municipality and the complaints from people, I have contacted the management of two of the Health Departments that serve our municipality: the health department of Vega Baja and of Torrevieja. It is not acceptable that our citizens experiencing health problems, have to travel 100 km away to La Vila, in order to be treated or to visit their ill relatives.”
Faced with this situation, Councillor Galiano explained that he had “insisted to the Manager of the Orihuela Hospital to prioritise referrals to the closest hospitals in Torrevieja and Elche, especially after the Torrevieja Management has confirmed to me that he has had, and currently has, availability of sufficient beds both in the wards and in the ICU”.
The Councillor for Health explained that “the decisions of the Ministry, management and the efficiency of the service to patients and families must prevail, not the measures that are taken due to convenience and harm them or further complicate their situation.”