Overcrowding at the Arrixaca Hospital in Murcia, which has seen 45 patients without ward places being treated in corridors and has led to suspensión of operations, is just part of the general collapse of the hospital network in Murcia.
Yesterday the Morales Meseguer hospital postponed seven operations in order to preserve beds for emergency admissions: some patients at the Reina Sofia could not be allocated ward places; and patients in Cartagena were being allocated beds in emergency treatment areas.
The collapse has been blamed on a flu epidemic producing 500 more patients daily than is normal for this time of year with between 1,800 and 2,000 emergency admissions daily.
This additional pressure on hospital services has also led to an increase in waiting times in emergency departments all over Murcia.
