Field hospitals being built
The measure will ensure the regional health service is prepared
THREE ‘field’ hospitals are being constructed in Alicante, Valencia and Castellón to treat coronavirus patients in the event of health service overload.
Regional president Ximo Puig explained that the new health facilities will have a total of 1,100 beds – 500 for Valencia, 400 for Alicante and 200 for Castellón.
The emergency initiative is designed to take pressure off hospitals and give the health service capacity to treat all patients suffering the effects of Covid-19 when the virus is expected to peak in Spain during April.
“At the moment the resources we have are sufficient to meet the demand but we have to plan for all possible scenarios and anticipate possible need,” said Sr Puig.
The prefabricated field hospitals are expected to be in place next week, when half of the beds will be available to use ‘if they are required in the health emergency’.
They are being constructed next to the cities’ main general hospitals by a company which has contracts with the ministry of defence and
NATO.
In this way, they can take overspill cases and treat patients in an area which is in direct contact with the main hospital.
Each field hospital will be kitted out with ‘all the necessary clinical and logistical equipment’.
They will have isolation and triage areas, intensive care units, etc as well as bathrooms, services and rest areas for healthcare staff.
Sr Puig added that the measure will give ‘maximum security to the health service in the Valencia region’.
Although temporary structures, the field hospitals are designed to be able to be operate ‘for as long as is needed’.
A total of €4 million is being spent on the emergency measure.
Sr Puig also noted that a plan has been put in place to use hotels in Alicante and Valencia to treat patients ‘if needed’.