'High staff turnover' reported at Dénia hospital

Patients 'unlikely to see the same consultant twice' at annual check-ups'

UP TO SIX in 10 consultants at Dénia hospital have been there less than three years and a very high number are only in their 20s, reveals a healthcare professionals' union.

The chances of patients seeing the same doctor twice on an annual appointment are 'very remote', claims SIMAPPAS in its recent report.

Overall, 40% of medics have only been working at the hospital since 2015 – when changes to company policy worsened employee conditions, leading to established consultants leaving in droves and having to be replaced.

But in some specialist areas, particularly high-pressure departments such as A&E and in- ternal medicine, the number of newbies is closer to 60%.

SIMAP-PAS says patients with chronic conditions or a clinical history who need to attend six-monthly or annual check-ups in cardiology, digestion, neurology, pneumology and endocrinology, among others, are unlikely to see the same consultant twice.

They have to introduce and explain themselves and their history all over again at every appointment, the union criticises.

In general, practically all the staff taken on within the last three years are very young, usually newly-qualified – which means they have the dedication and enthusiasm necessary which older doctors may lack, but have little or no experience.

This is especially the case in departments where the workload and stress levels are high.

SIMAP-PAS is concerned this is a sign of very high staff turnover.

Its report claims the situation is similar in other privatised hospitals in the region, or those run according to the socalled 'Alzira model', including Vinalopó-Elche hospital.

Alzira hospital, often hailed as a beacon of successful medical management, was de-privatised in April and the regional government says the others will eventually all follow suit.