The nursing team of the emergency department of the Can Misses Hospital has raised its voice to denounce a reality that they consider unsustainable. Through the USAE union, they have expressed their concern about the lack of response to their repeated requests to reinforce the workforce, something they consider essential to cope with the overload of work they face daily. “We feel helpless,” they point out forcefully.
A letter reflecting the exhaustion of the collective
In May last year, 130 nursing professionals signed a letter addressed to the health authorities of the Pitiusas, including the manager of the Health Area, Enrique Garcerán, and the director of Nursing, Ana Ribas. In the document, the urgent need to expand the staffing to reach a minimum of 10 nurses and six TCAE (Technicians in Auxiliary Nursing Care) per shift was raised, a reinforcement that they consider essential to ensure the quality of care. However, eight months later, the professionals have still not received a response to their request. According to USAE, the situation remains with nine nurses and five TCAE per shift, even after implementing temporary measures through the winter contingency plan.
Relentless pressure to provide care
The problem, according to the group, is not limited to the peaks of the summer months or flu cases in winter. The workload is constant throughout the year, and the measures implemented so far have not been enough to alleviate the situation. “It is clear that the current system does not respond to the needs of a hospital facing continuous care pressure,” said USAE spokesperson Marta Méndez. In the letter addressed to the authorities, the workers describe a scenario of physical and emotional exhaustion, aggravated by the lack of sufficient personnel on each shift. “It’s not a question of numbers, it’s a question of professional dignity and ensuring the best possible care for our patients,” Méndez added.
They demand an immediate response
The collective insists that permanent reinforcement of the workforce is an urgent need. They also criticize the administrative silence after months of requests. “We are talking about a situation that affects both professionals and patients. We cannot continue working under these conditions,” stressed the union spokeswoman. Despite the punctual measures implemented, such as the temporary reinforcement of the winter plan, emergency workers at Can Misses claim that these actions do not address the root of the problem. “The hospital needs a structural solution, not patches that only work in the short term,” they pointed out. The crisis in the emergency department of Can Misses, marked by saturation and long waiting times, continues to be one of the main concerns of the health system of the Pitiusas. In the meantime, the professionals hope that the authorities will respond with concrete actions to alleviate the situation and guarantee quality care for patients.
