Saturated flu hospitals, health centers and emergency departments in Galicia

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/Galicia/gripe/satura/hospitales/centros/salud/urgencias/toda/Galicia/elpepiautgal/20110115elpgal_7/Tes

Saturated flu hospitals, health centers and emergency departments in Galicia The spread of the virus is similar to other years and symptoms, mild PAUL LINDE - Santiago - 15/01/2011
The flu has been saturated in recent weeks, hospitals, emergency and health centers in Galicia. Although the spread of the virus this year has been higher than in others, depending on Servizos Galego de Saúde (Sergas), several doctors confirmed that the influx of patients has left close to collapse some services.
The flu has been saturated in recent weeks, hospitals, emergency and health centers in Galicia. Although the spread of the virus this year has been higher than in others, depending on Servizos Galego de Saúde (Sergas), several doctors confirmed that the influx of patients has left close to collapse some services and some quotes delayed several days of care primary, which this newspaper has found.
Sergas eludes clear to what extent they have been saturated with some of their services and simply noted that the incidence of influenza was similar to that of other campaigns and their symptoms, mild. A spokeswoman acknowledged that during the first week of the year, the number of calls from this disease and acute respiratory infections suffered "a slight increase." "This effect can begin to drop next week," he added.
The truth is that the primary care appointment, which normally occurs for the same time calling or the next, you come to take for several days, although there are clinics that are functioning normally. According to Manuel Martin, spokesman for the Association for the Defense da Galega Public Sanidade, this delay means that patients decide to go to the hospital emergency, so you also become saturated, because there are enough beds to accommodate them. It is a vicious circle.
One of the basic problems, according to Martin is the shortage of hospital beds in Galicia. "We have two-plus or three per thousand inhabitants, while in Europe there are five or six," he says. This means that when there are epidemics are filled. "The government does not want to have more beds because it is expensive, but every year we have the flu virus, which causes an imbalance in cardiac patients and the immunocompromised have to enter. Also collapse emergencies and can not refer the patient to bed occupancy, so they have to be hospitalized in a bad way in the corridors and to postpone attention to other people, "he adds. On the other hand, blames the overcrowding of quotas in delays in primary care clinics.
Another reason that adds to conjunctural the above can be, according to Clara Corpas, CSIF union that Sergas staff must settle their own affairs days last year before 22 January. Some do not spend and take advantage of these dates. "How many casualties are not being met, that makes some doctors have to care for their patients and their partners," added Manuel González Moreira, CIG.
Moreover, the partnership of the Patient Advocate yesterday submitted a letter to the Regional Minister Pilar Farjas in asking you to take "immediate steps" to resolve the collapse of the pediatric service at the Hospital of Ourense (Chou). The situation is "particularly worrying" as agreed to confirm this service professionals. Two pediatric emergencies seen daily at the same time take care of the children admitted to the ICU and hospital plants. Have guards ranging from three in the afternoon until eight in the morning and in the days of major conditions of flu, the two doctors serving half "of 180 emergency departments in the guard, so that we can do comprehensive monitoring of inpatients, "says Cristina Huete.