Mallorca’s Son Espases chief faces sack call

At University Hospital Son Espases in Palma, Mallorca, the nursing union Satse has called for chief executive Cristina Granados to be removed immediately after nursing director Natalia Vallés resigned. The union made its demand to Health Minister Manuela García on Thursday, 10 September, describing both the hospital’s management and staff working conditions as “untenable”.

Satse says Vallés stepped down after a period of intense pressure on care, following repeated union warnings about too few nurses and excessive workloads. It praised her work, while alleging that hospital management had repeatedly disregarded her professional view and made decisions against it.

Vallés is the latest senior figure to leave during Granados’s time in charge, Satse said. Former management and general services director Alfonso Macías, his successor José Antonio Visedo and communications chief Sabrina Vidal have also left their posts. Vidal has publicly alleged humiliating treatment during her time at the hospital.

The union says the summer exposed shortages of nurses and midwives, while dozens of patients waiting to be admitted built up in the emergency department. It also raised concerns over disputed extra operating work known as “peonadas premium”. Satse says the work was not formally authorised by the director general of IbSalut, while spending rose 60 per cent and surgical activity fell 11 per cent.

Satse also highlighted controversy over Granados and medical director Vicente Torres joining a Madrid demonstration supporting striking doctors while Son Espases faced waiting-list problems and overcrowding in emergency care. The union says the hospital now needs to restore stability, leadership and staff confidence.

Topics: Jobs & labour · Protests · Health

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com