Mallorca: 71 await admission as specialist waits rise 50%
On Mallorca, 71 people are waiting to be admitted from the emergency department at Son Espases Hospital on Tuesday, 3 November. Across the Balearic Islands, the wait for a first specialist appointment has risen by 50%. At a parliamentary sitting in Palma, Balearic health minister Manuela García blames the longer waits on a doctors’ strike.
Strike blamed for longer waits
García says the strike has forced three million people across Spain to have appointments rescheduled. In the Balearic Islands, health services have had to deal with more than 80,000 cancellations, she says. She holds Pedro Sánchez’s government responsible for the strike.
Socialist MP Amanda Fernández disputes García’s explanation. She accuses the minister of falling back on the same reasons for longer waits: previous governments, more people with health cards and the strike.
71 await admission at Son Espases
The figure for Son Espases came from socialist MP Patrícia Gómez. She says 71 people are waiting for admission despite there being no epidemic phase, no doctors on strike there and no rise in population.
García defends the Balearic government’s health record and thanks emergency staff for handling increased demand. She also expresses regret that some patients are waiting longer than they would like.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com