The closure of the evening emergencies came into effect on Thursday with strong criticism from users and a division of opinions among health personnel. In Las Fuentes Nortes, which will be the reference for patients from Rebolería, San José Norte, San José Centro and Torrerramona from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the change was not understood. “It seems horrible to me. With this they are only going to saturate the Miguel Servet more, it falls under its own weight,” said Fernando Ferrer, one of the users who came to the Continuing Care consultations in the afternoon due to an emergency.
Carlos García, another of them, would have seen it well “if it were to improve care.” “But if it’s to cut staff, obviously not”, he qualified. María Teresa Esteban, who was waiting at the doors of the clinic to be vaccinated, also showed her rejection. “It seems fatal to me. I live next to the Alcampo de Utrillas. Before, the center of Torrerramona belonged to me, but now, if something happens, I will have to come here. They do everything as they please,” he criticized.
There were them, like Teresa Ayuda, who were in solidarity with the affected users. “I live nearby and, therefore, I will not have to travel, but whoever has an emergency and must come here … I imagine that, by covering more centers, there will be greater ‘traffic jams’. Anything that is removing services is negative”, manifested.
Just a few minutes after 5:00 p.m., four patients had already been treated. “We are scared with what may happen on Saturday”, recognized one of the workers from Las Fuentes Nortes. Although they will have reinforcements, with personnel from other outpatient clinics, he assured that the global cut “will be noticed.” “They want us to take on the work of five in a center,” he lamented.
Mondays are also feared, a day that usually concentrates more activity. This week, both the Federation of Neighborhood Associations (FABZ) and CSIF, CC. OO, and the main associations in defense of public health warned of the difficulties that this reorganization entails for older patients, those who do not have resources or those who have difficulties to move, not ruling out concentrations to show their discomfort. The problem, they pointed out from this health center, is that the change “has been imposed” and with little reaction time.
“The evening emergencies have a transcendental role, since they help to unload the hospitals. And although it is said that they are used by very few people, from time to time patients come who require immediate attention,” they added.
This feeling is shared in the Picarral, reference for Actur Sur, Arrabal and Parque Goya, or in the health center of Sagasta. The criticisms, in any case, are not unanimous, since there are those who defend this system in the face of the evident lack of professionals. “Giving more accessibility does not imply greater efficiency. What cannot be is having unproductive services”said another one of the Las Fuentes Norte workers.
The health workers of the reference centers are aware that the work will increase. And while some believe that the number of patients attending will increase, others predict that “people will go straight to the hospital”, compromising the times and attention of the most serious emergencies. Those who support the decision of the Department of Health insist that this will “dissuade” those who tended to come for “banalities” who could wait the next day.
“They will wait for their doctor to see them in their usual hours. What needs to be strengthened is that time slot”they said. As reported by the Department of Health, the intention is to evaluate the change in the fall to correct whatever is considered necessary. The main fear now is that an eventual spike in infections complicates day-to-day life, as is already happening in various parts of Zaragoza due to cases among young people.
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