The union says that there is a shortage of 2,400 nurses for public health hospitals and health centres. The number of nurses in the public health service is around the national average in terms of the population ratio. However, the situation in the private health care sector is said to be worse. The union's secretary, Litha Otero, explains that this situation is meaning that nursing auxiliaries are performing tasks that they shouldn't be.
In the public health sector, Otero points to the increasing need for nurses to make home visits. "This is where there are real deficiencies and a lack of personnel. Nurses see patients in their consulting rooms. It's an old health model that we are unable to change."
Otero adds that the union presented a national report in 2017 which identified that a half of nurses were suffering from burnout. This report also revealed that seven out of ten nurses felt that care given to patients in the public health sector had deteriorated. One of the main reasons given was a lack of personnel.
In Denmark, Otero observes, the nursing ratio is 16.9 per 1,000 people. In Ireland it is 11.9. The ratios in Spain and the Balearics are far short of these. "No political party has dared to legislate in order to deal with this. The years go by and no action is taken."
3 comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
i have lived in palma de mallorca for 12years and really wanna be a nurse but because of i dnt speak catalan i have problem pursueing my dreams here in mallorca as a nurse.
Is it also the case that nurses (and all Balearic public service workers) have to have at least level B2 in Catalan? If so, that would be a major prohibitor to other Spanish nationals applying too. And not just nursing.
Nurses throughout the world have always been very poorly paid. Any person with the desire to join the Medical profession must be prepared to be constantly on low pay. Their desire and dedication is commendable. Unless the pay scales are reformed, revenue increased to fund Nursing, then there is really very little incentive to become a Nurse.