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29th July - 11th August 2011 Summer special Pages 12-15
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Page 45
16 Page Pullout
Guide
Pages 08-09
New centre in Armeñime
Health care hiccup
group of ex-pat women from Callao Salvaje are A more than unhappy at the
“cavalier” fashion in which they have been switched from Adeje’s main health centre to the newly opened one in Armeñime.
The group spoke to Island Connections just a few days after they had all received letters from the regional department of health informing them of the change – though some had already found out when they called to Adeje for a repeat prescription and were unceremoniously told that they were no longer patients of the centre. Many of these ladies have lived here for over 20 years and have established excellent relationships with their respective doctors
Armeñime new health centre
and nurses, working through language barriers, and felt comfortable discussing even the most intimate health problems. They are not happy at what appears to be the abrupt nature of the change. There are complaints on a number of levels. In essence, the new health centre will cater for all of the approximately 6,000 patients in the catchment area which will include most people living anywhere between the Atalaya roundabout and Guía de Isora. While they accept, albeit grudgingly in some cases, that now that the new centre is open and given where they live they should move, they feel they could have been informed at least a month in advance to give themselves time to get
used to the new arrangements, have a last visit with their old doctor and discuss any transition needs. According to the unofficial leader of the group, Ann Kirby, “85 per cent of the population of Callao Salvaje are British”, and a lot of them are pensioners. As ‘pensionistas’ and EU citizens registered and living in Spain they are entitled to exactly the same benefits as any national citizens. And what they do feel would help greatly would be some form of translation service, or “a qualified English language doctor”. Karen, one of the group who has lived here for years and would be fairly fluent in Spanish says going to the doctor “isn’t like going to the tax office; medical matters are very specific and very personal”, and you need to be able to discuss them in your own language. Most of the ladies we spoke to found that their respective doctors in Adeje could speak English and were more than happy to do so, but are worried that the same won’t be the case in Armeñime, and given that there are only two doctors to service the centre, they won’t have too much choice. Continued on page 2
Have you seen them? SOCA
T
he UK’s Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) is asking holidaymakers and ex-pats in Spain to be on the look out for two fugitives.
The men, Kirk Bradley and Anthony Downes, escaped on Monday 18 July when the prison van they were travelling in was attacked by a gang armed with guns and baseball bats. At the time they were on their way from HMP Manchester to a court in Liverpool to face firearms charges. The security van driver and his passenger were taken to hospital though they
are not thought to be badly hurt. The attackers escaped with the prisoners in a car. SOCA believes that because of long-standing links the men may be attempting to travel to Spain, or may even already be here. Downes is known to be an associate of Kevin Parle, another fugitive on the Crimestoppers ‘most wanted’ list, who is thought to be in Spain and is wanted in connection with two murders in Liverpool. SOCA’s Frank Francis said, “These are dangerous men and it is very important that nobody approaches them. We are asking people who think they may have seen them to call Crimestoppers, either in Spain or in the
UK. You can do this free, and completely anonymously. Our priority is getting these two back into custody as soon as possible.” Kirk Trevor Bradley is 25 years old, 5’10”, of proportionate build, with green eyes and cropped black hair. He has a Liverpool accent. Anthony Downes, also known to associates as Fat Tony, is 24 years old, 5’7” with blue eyes and short straight dark hair. Contact Crimestoppers in Spain on 900 555 111. Your call will be answered in the UK by a Crimestoppers agent. For Crimestoppers in the UK call 0800 555 111.
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