Costa hospitals get ready for coronavirus 'peak'
Marina Baixa hospital in Villajoyosa this week received extra beds to cater for the expected 'peak' in A&E and intensive care admissions over Covid-19. Other district hospitals in the Marina Alta, Alicante and inland areas are doing likewise and local health centres have issued specific instructions to residents in each town.
DURING the state of emergency, all public health centres ‘ambulatorios’ have changed the way they attend to those requiring medical attention.
The Marina Baixa health department have published the following information:
■ Do not make an online appointment with the GVA Salud app. In fact, the app will tell you you don’t have an assigned doctor and to phone the health centre. If you need to see a doctor phone your health centre directly, the number is on your SIP card.
■ Avoid going to your health centre unless you require immediate medical attention.
■ If you require immediate medical attention, you have to phone your medical centre beforehand and explain why you need to see a doctor.
■ Where possible, go to the health centre on your own and stay there for as little time as possible.
■ All programmed appointments have been postponed until further notice, i.e. check-ups and appointments for those who have chronic illnesses under control.
■ For renovation of prescriptions or to consult your doctor about any queries you have regarding treatment, phone the health centre to get an appointment to speak with your doctor on the phone. Do not go to the health centre if you don’t have to.
■ On arriving at the health centre, state what your symptoms are, or what you require and you will be told where to go. You might have to then go to a different area of the health centre to where you usually go.
■ At all times, maintain the minimum safety distance between yourself and other patients as well as with health professionals.
The Marina Baixa health department has a Facebook page Departamento de Salud Marina Baixa, which they update with the latest information.
Due to information being published in media that immune compromised people are at risk, Marina Baixa hospital has supplied an email (reumamarinabaixa@gmail. com) so all their rheumatology patients can send any queries they might have and these will be answered.
No hospital visitors during lockdown
During this lockdown period, patients in the hospital are not allowed any visitors and the cafeteria remains shut.
All the hospital’s programmed appointments have also been put on hold, where possible the patients will be contacted by phone by their consultant.
The hospital’s patient information service will attend to calls on Monday to Friday between 09.00-14.00 on 96 690 73 40 or by email on: hvillajoyosa_saip@gva.es