Mammogram delays denied

THE CCOO and UGT unions at Torrevieja hospital have been accused of spreading unjustified alarm over their recent claim that women who find a lump in their breast currently have to wait six months for a mammogram.

Head of oncology Juan Carlos Toral insisted the unions were quoting unverified information that referred to nonurgent appointments. He also denied their claim that mammograms used to be provided immediately when a lump was detected but the protocol had recently been changed, assuring that the same system has been in place for 15 years.

In an interview with TV Torrevieja, Dr Toral said: “We have a rapid attention circuit for oncology patients, so that patients with suspicious signs (of cancer) can be given appointments for within a period of less than seven days.”

The unions responded following a meeting with the president of Torrevieja charity Afecáncer, who said women are taking advantage of an agreement with the private Quirón hospital to get mammograms and other specialist care more quickly. The unions assured they had not intended to cause alarm but to speed up early detection as this is so important with breast cancer.

They said they are still waiting to receive the list of who is on the breast cancer committee and the official waiting lists from the regional health department. The unions thanked Afecáncer for their work and were also planning to meet the Alicante association against cancer (AACC).

Concern for child waits

Long waits endured by young children at Torrevieja hospital A&E department have been criticised by consumer rights association Consumur.

They claimed the mother of a two-year-old boy with gastroenteritis was advised to try giving him a yogurt then see how he reacted, but then ‘forgotten about’ for the next five hours until gone 23.00.

“It was the doctors themselves who told (the mother) it was necessary to submit complaints and report the situation, due to the excessive amount of work they have to deal with,” noted Consumur.

They said this is not an isolated case, as that day another five children had to wait several hours for treatment.