Flu and Covid jabs in Spain risk delays, nurses warn

Spain’s flu and Covid vaccination campaigns are starting without extra nurses in primary care: on 30 September, the nursing union Satse warns that patients could face delays. It says emergency departments could later be overwhelmed if more people seek help for flu, Covid and other respiratory viruses.

Fewer nurses for a bigger workload

Satse says health services have not brought in more nurses for the campaigns. It also says they are failing to provide enough cover for staff who are ill, on leave or taking rest days.

The union says nurses asked to give jabs in the afternoon, at weekends or outside their usual hours must be able to choose whether to do so and be paid fairly. It objects to low rates and differences in pay within the same health service.

Other care could be put on hold

Satse warns that the staffing shortage leaves nurses less time for preventive care, home visits and people with long-term or multiple conditions. It wants better planning to match nurse numbers to each health service’s needs.

A proposal backed by the union to ensure hospitals and health centres have enough nurses has been awaiting approval by Spain’s Congress of Deputies for more than six years, Satse says.

Topics: Jobs & labour · Health · Politics

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com