Santa Cruz de Tenerife 1 Apr. (Press Europa) –
Over 120 doctors and trainee physicians at the Canary Islands University Hospital (HUC), representing 14 out of the 18 departments involved in emergency management, have expressed their discontent with management decisions and highlighted the “lack of planning and support within the service, which is severely impacting the quality of care, patient safety, and the working conditions of professionals.”
Currently, they assert in a collective statement, emergency shifts are being staffed with an “inadequate” number of emergency physicians, often with only one or two professionals present when at least five are necessary.
“This strain has resulted in excessive fatigue among doctors who are opting for more appealing opportunities in a more conducive work environment,” they caution.
Trainee doctors also raise concerns regarding the “adverse effects” on their education, as the “minimal supervision” resulting from the overwhelming workload compels them to take on responsibilities that “exceed” their training level, jeopardising both their learning and patient safety.
The implementation of “special night plans,” which can compel doctors from various specialities to fill shifts in the emergency department, has also faced criticism, they elaborate.
While presented as voluntary, numerous professionals have reported feeling “pressured” to accept these shifts, with potential consequences for their working conditions should they refuse.
In their view, “these makeshift solutions fail to tackle the root issue and merely exacerbate the precarious conditions of healthcare within the hospital.”
In light of this crisis, doctors and residents at the HUC are calling for an immediate increase in the emergency workforce to ensure safe and high-quality care, the alleviation of the workload on resident doctors and specialists, adherence to training standards with adequate supervision, a reassessment of shift patterns, and a cessation of pressure on specialists to cover emergency night shifts, along with urgent measures to enhance hospital management and prevent service collapse.
The authors of this document warn that the situation at the HUC “is untenable and demands immediate solutions” and urge the Canary Health Service to take “urgent” action to prevent the decline of healthcare services and the infringement of labour and training rights.
