Xeraco calls for ' complaints in writing' over poor health centre service

Xeraco town hall is urging residents to fill in forms if they have problems with the local health centre and has even set up a dedicated team to deal with them after more than 30 verbal complaints were received in the last few weeks.

Mayor Avelino Mascarell says he has ' attended to dozens' of patients who are furious about the ' substandard treatment and delays' they are forced to put up with at the surgery. “Residents have a very poor impression of the way the clinic works,” he reveals.

“They complain that nobody ever picks up the phone when they call – the local police tried, even, and found the same – and that they are blocked from going to the surgery, but not given any alternative. “Also, they are protesting over long delays in appointments, which has become habitual and which we cannot tolerate.” Mascarell has written to the regional health authority and is calling for anyone who has had problems lately to put them in writing so he can send them all off to Valencia as proof.

“The first step was to report the issues to the centre management, then to GPs, and finally, to the hospital management – and Gandía area health department has asked for details in writing so it can ' look into' the matter,” he says.

“So, anyone who wants to can pop into Xeraco town hall and fill in a complaint form – for the elderly and anyone else who could have trouble doing this, we'll help them with it. “We want these issues to be solved as soon as possible, . Xeraco cannot have its 6,000- plus residents relying on a GP practice they cannot visit and which never answers the phone.

“The surgery has been badly hit by funding cuts, and it is the regional health authority's responsibility to guarantee a quality service.”