Feijóo demands answers from the Government for the "public health crisis" in Ceuta after meeting with doctors and nurses

Alberto Núñez Feijóo has warned this Thursday of the "public health crisis" that Ceuta is experiencing after meeting with the heads of the Medical and Nursing associations of the autonomous city, who have conveyed to him the strong healthcare pressure and the accumulated fatigue of professionals since the massive entry of migrants on July 30.

Also participating in the meeting were the president of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas; the Minister of Health, Nabila Benzina; the deputy secretary of Finance, Housing and Infrastructure of the PP, Juan Bravo; the president of the Nursing Association, Rosa Fuentes, and the president of the Medical Association, Enrique Roviralta.

"They conveyed to us the concern that exists in the healthcare sector about the risk of transmission of infectious diseases and about the public health crisis that the autonomous city is experiencing," explained the leader of the PP at the end of a meeting focused on the situation of the hospital, health centers and the conditions in which the staff work.

Nursing demands a state of alarm and a single command

The Nursing Association has presented to Feijóo a scenario of "absolute collapse" which, according to their data, has left 1,612 interventions during the first three days of the emergency and a maximum of 1,149 assists in just 24 hours. Emergency activity continues above 2,000 weekly attendances, while Primary Care also supports a considerable increase in demand.

Nurses report shifts that can last four hours and situations where a single professional must attend to up to 16 patients. Added to this is a prior staff deficit, with a ratio of 6.97 nurses per thousand inhabitants, and difficulties in filling available positions through hiring pools.

The professional organization has also warned of outbreaks of gastroenteritis, scabies, and impetigo, in addition to cases of tuberculosis and chickenpox. The concern is especially concentrated in informal settlements and in the overcrowding of minors' centers and the CETI, where overcrowding and deficient hygiene conditions complicate prevention and health monitoring.

Given this situation, the College has requested the support of the Popular Party to demand the declaration of a state of alarm, the creation of a single command to coordinate health and security resources, and the elevation to level 2 of the INGESA Disaster Plan. It also demands staff reinforcements, more supplies, and guarantees for the nurses at the Tarajal health center who make home visits to the settlements.

Health defends that it maintains ordinary care

The Ministry of Health and INGESA reject the image of a collapsed hospital. The latest official data place 92 beds occupied out of the 212 that are operational, so another 120 remain free, 56.6% of the total. The organization has also incorporated more than 60 professionals to reinforce assistance until the end of August.

Minister Mónica García has maintained that the response to the emergency is being carried out without interrupting the usual care for Ceutians. Her department recognizes the extraordinary pressure of the first days, although it maintains that the system has retained sufficient capacity to attend to the population.

The PP has asked for explanations for the scabies infections detected among the deployed personnel. Its Deputy Secretary of Health and Social Policy, Carmen Fúnez, has spoken of 24 cases among military personnel and agents, in addition to two affected health professionals, and has asked if Health has activated any joint protocol with Defense and Interior.

Defense has placed the 24 confirmed infections among military personnel and has specified that two appeared before the massive entry on July 30. It has also ruled out that the origin of the outbreak is related to contact with migrants and has reported on the treatment of those affected and the disinfection of the facilities used by the units.

The Popular Party has requested that Mónica García appear in Congress to detail the reinforcements sent to Ceuta, the health protocols activated, and the coordination maintained with Defense and Interior.