Protest at Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella
A protest took place this morning at the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella. This is not a new occurrence, as protests have become a regular event outside the outpatient clinics of the Costa del Sol University Hospital in Marbella.
Staff Shortage and Need for More Professionals
The Workers’ Committee continues to highlight the lack of staff and the need to hire more professionals, especially with the upcoming expansion of the hospital. Unions have once again gathered in protest this Tuesday at the hospital, where demonstrations are becoming increasingly frequent. They claim that staff shortages are not being addressed, certain permissions are not being granted, and the need for more staff is growing.
Uncertainty Over Hospital Expansion
There is uncertainty about what will happen with the hospital expansion. According to the data provided, the hospital has about 2,200 workers, but needs around 500 more. Alberto Ortega, president of the Workers’ Committee, has stated that “the staff is below that of any similar SAS hospital” and that there is a shortage of professionals in all categories.
Management Changes and Staffing Issues
On January 1, 2022, the Costa del Sol Health Agency was dissolved, and the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella came under the direct management of the Andalusian Health Service (SAS). Since then, according to the Workers’ Committee, there have been ongoing staffing issues, a situation that has worsened since January 1, 2023, when the hospital transitioned from a labor regime to a statutory regime. They believe that the process of becoming a statutory entity did not come with an appropriate adjustment of the hospital’s staff, which is below the staffing levels of other similar SAS hospitals.
Staff Shortages Across All Areas
The staff shortage is felt in all areas of the hospital, with the most significant shortages in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Gynecology and Obstetrics, and Emergency departments. The ICU at the Costa del Sol Hospital has 15 beds, with a staff of 5 nurses per shift plus a reserve. This staffing level means that the nurse-to-patient ratio is often 1/3, while recommendations from scientific societies and even the Ministry of Health suggest a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1/1 or 1/2 at most.
Concerns Over Patient Safety
Professionals from the Gynecology and Obstetrics Unit have contacted the hospital management, warning that the understaffing puts patient safety at risk. According to the unions, the staff shortage in the Emergency department is attempted to be mitigated through the use of reserves, but these are not always available and do not provide the necessary stability, a situation that is repeated in all areas of the hospital.
