The operating room and the delivery room of the Formentera Hospital have been closed since October 15, when an environmental fungus was detected in the anteroom of both facilities as a result of the humidity caused by the DANA Alice. More than a month later, the surgical activity is still paralyzed, which has led to the referral of surgeries and deliveries to Ibiza and numerous complaints from patients.
Although it was expected to reopen last week, from the Health Service of the Balearic Islands, have informed this Monday to La Voz de Ibiza that the sample taken last November 7 was not valid, so a new preventive sampling was carried out on Friday.
The results will be known in the middle of this week, which will determine whether the operating room and delivery room can be reopened.
To date, 11 surgical interventions have been deprogrammed, as well as 7 minor outpatient Dermatology surgeries, mainly for the removal of cysts. In addition, four scheduled operations and one delivery have had to be referred to Can Misses.
Vital emergencies only
Since last October 15, the Hospital de Formentera only attends vital emergencies. The rest of the deliveries and interventions have been transferred to the Can Misses Hospital in Ibiza, a situation that has generated growing unease among users of the public health service.
The lack of communication has also been the cause of complaints, as some patients were not notified of the suspension of their procedures in advance.
“Today a friend of mine was scheduled for an operation and yesterday they had not even called her to let her know that the operating room was still closed,” a patient complained last week to La Voz de Ibiza, who described the situation as a “system disaster.”
Waiting for the new crop
If the results of the culture were negative, the opening could take place this week, although the lack of a valid sample has delayed the process.
The closure of the operating room and the delivery room has highlighted the vulnerability of the health system in Formentera to environmental contingencies: last year this situation was repeated almost at the same time of the year. At that time, the room was closed for three weeks.
