Palma A&E backlog: 21 await admission at Son Llàtzer

Twenty-one people were waiting to be admitted from A&E at University Hospital Son Llàtzer in Palma on Thursday morning. Another 25 were in the waiting room, while 114 people were being treated, according to the USAE union.

USAE says the hospital’s emergency department has been in a fresh state of “collapse” since Monday.

Patients sent to Son Espases

The union says patients have started being redirected to the emergency department at University Hospital Son Espases in an effort to ease the pressure at Son Llàtzer.

But it warns that Son Espases could also become overwhelmed. USAE said Mallorca’s four hospital emergency departments all collapsed in March.

Union calls for more staff

Redirecting patients is only a temporary fix, USAE argues. It says Son Llàtzer should reopen a currently closed ward with enough professionals and distribute staff more effectively.

Of 36 nursing care assistants hired recently, none has been assigned to A&E, the union says. Its representative at Son Llàtzer, Alejandro Juan Alonso, accused hospital management of failing for months to take firm action against the continuing pressure on the service.

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Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com