Today doctors and nurses have kicked off their protests with a gathering at the doors of the University Hospital of Ceuta in an event held under the slogan: “For public healthcare, the dignity of professionals and patients,” according to a statement released on Monday.
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This action coincides with the second visit, a month later, of the Minister of Health, Mónica García, to the autonomous city amid the tension caused by the crisis that began at the end of July with the entry of tens of thousands of people from Morocco.
At the doors of the Ceuta hospital, chants such as “Minister listen, Ceuta is fighting”; “Less speeches and more resources”; “Stretcher beds exhausted, promises forgotten”… were shouted. The demands were not only directed at those responsible on the Peninsula, there were also signs asking for help from Europe.
The gathered doctors and nurses called for the presence of the minister, reminding her that “here waiting list data is also manipulated,” as some signs alluded to in clear relation to the case of the waiting lists in Madrid, where García has focused claims since she is also a candidate for the presidency of the community. “Here the data is also dressed up,” the attendees chanted in unison.
The healthcare workers also expressed their displeasure about the conditions of the protest, since they had requested the gathering at the doors, but INGESA did not allow it and security personnel asked them to leave the vicinity of the hospital center. As a spokesperson for Satse told El Faro de Ceuta, “it is an attack on union freedom that will not be allowed and will end in a lawsuit.”
Following these protests, another gathering is planned in front of the INGESA Territorial Directorate for tomorrow, Friday, September 18, and a healthcare strike for Thursday, September 24.
Data exchange between Health and healthcare workers
Among those present was Enrique Roviralta, president of the Ceuta Medical Association and at the same time general secretary of the doctors’ union of the autonomous city. This spokesperson told this media outlet on Monday that labor resources were beginning to fail. “There are already three sick leaves, one resignation, and several intend to leave”, he denounced.
After more than 40 days, this physician observes that among his colleagues there are already clear signs of “exhaustion and fatigue”. He described it as follows: “We are facing an increase in care, especially in the Emergency and Urgencies area, which is double, sometimes triple, counting only with five or six doctors on duty.” And he adds one more problem: “The language barrier. INGESA [responsible for the healthcare management of the autonomous city and belonging to the ministry] committed to sending translators, but has not fulfilled it.”
From INGESA, the picture is different: since the beginning of the crisis, the 175 hospital beds have been increased by up to the current 16%. Javier Padilla, Secretary of State for Health, commented on social media that “the translation service is already being contracted, so it is imminent.” He also clarified other accusations made by the doctors’ spokesperson following statements in EL MUNDO: “By the way, today [Wednesday] I was in Ceuta. I had a meeting with the Staff Board. The union organization represented by the only source of this news has not made any contribution, doubt, or proposal in line with what the article says.”
Padilla told this media outlet last Monday that “in recent days, for example, three emergency doctors have joined to reinforce the fast track for care of irregular migrant patients, precisely to provide quick care in a setting separate from the Ceuta population.”
Hospital pressure has continued to decline in recent weeks, according to data shown by INGESA through its daily notes. As of today, there are 28 immigrants admitted, four of whom suffer from chickenpox. It is also highlighted that 758 people have already been immunized, since more than 3,000 vaccine doses have been administered to update the immunological status of migrants. Regarding reinforcement in human resources, a budget of one million euros has been allocated to strengthen support contracts.
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