Too much of

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.

Inspiration needed

WAITING lists for elective surgeries have inevitably stretched due to the impact of the Covid pandemic, when for a time health provision seemed to be just about one thing.

Unsurprisingly, the cumulative effect of delays on both consultations, treatments and operations have come home to roost.

The Valencian Community has - according to its own figures - people waiting up to 18 months for procedures like hip and knee surgeries.

They may seem minor to some bean counter but if you suffer such ailments, it's a serious problem, no matter what else anybody else says.

It's got to the stage of some patients being sent to private hospitals to ease waiting lists as medical staff cannot cope.

Unions say more doctors are needed as there’s a shortfall right across the system from local GPs through to consultants.

Money can talk though and administrators are offering overtime payments for staff to do weekend and evening operations.

That’s worrying as medical teams repeatedly report stress and being overworked.

What happens if there's a fatal error in the operating theatre because somebody has clocked up far too many hours but desperately needs some extra money?

It appears to be papering over the cracks when the only realistic answer is to employ more people and reward them well for their endeavours.

Spain’s health service is lauded with praise in international surveys that put it among the best.

But there appears to be no sustainable plan to lance the boil of waiting lists, much to the frustration of both medics and patients.

Even in a year of elections where you’d expect to hear some fresh ideas, the politicians appear to be bereft of inspiration to solve this crucial issue.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Anthony Piovesan anthony@theolivepress.es

Jo Chipchase jo@theolivepress.es

John Culatto

ADMIN Sandra Aviles Diaz (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es