Today, Monday March 16, begins the second five day National Doctors’ Strike.
The Ministry of Health has established a new National Statute for minimum service levels to be provided during strike days and hospitals in the region will count on more than 900 doctors to attend patients with urgent health problems. The number of doctors attending in patients will be increased from 50 to 60 percent.
The previous five day strike in February registered a loss of assistance in Primary Health (local Medical Centres) causing 25,350 consultations to be cancelled.
In Primary Care this week there will be 2 to 3 doctors in every Medical Centre in the region under the new standard.
In the case of hospitals, duty doctors and Emergency Departments there will be 100% attendance.
Some 25 to 30 percent of diagnostic tests will be carried out.
All patients in Emergency Departments must be attended as well as in patents in oncology, dialysis and pregnant women.
External consultations for pregnant women and oncology patients will be guaranteed.
Editors Note
The above is the information from the Regional Health Service. However, respecting the strike may be patchy. All readers with hospital appointments should check before attending and patients at the local Medical Centre may experience delays or cancellations over the next five days.
