Research in the Torrejón Public Hospital continues and the Ayuso Regional Government insists on the fact that if it detects irregular practices, whether in terms of patient care, quality or administrative and economic management, it will be “relentless”, without … exclude any measures concerning the Ribera Salud Group, which has a 30-year concession for the management of this center. But, for now, the data available to the Ministry of Health from the emergency inspections carried out are positive and reassuring: no bad practices have been detected, nor have there been any orders or instructions to health professionals to reduce “intensity” and treat fewer patients. These professionals were also direct: if they had received an order to this effect, they would not have complied with it out of pure ethics.
It has been quite a week at the Ministry of Health, since last Wednesday an audio of the CEO of Ribera Salud, Pablo Gallart, was made public in which he defended adjustments in patient care to improve the company’s accounts. The left saw this as a golden opportunity to launch against nothing less than the health system of Madrid, where there is public-private collaboration in five hospitals in the region, including that of Torrejón. The Minister of Health, Fátima Matute, appeared yesterday at Puerta del Sol, after the Government Council chaired by Ayuso, to clarify the result of the inspections carried out in recent days and to answer all questions from the press.
The previous afternoon, the advisor had met for two hours with the French president of the Ribera group, Emmanuel de Geuser. During the meeting, this manager completely distanced himself from the CEO’s audio, made it clear that he was not sharing the content at all and guaranteed that the Group had not given any instructions to Torrejón professionals to slow down patient care and improve outcomes. On the contrary, according to ministerial sources, he expressed his attachment to the “quality of care” at the hospital and praised the Madrid health system. The content of the meeting satisfied the councilor, who had summoned De Geuser to ask for explanations.
At the moment, the ministry is not considering reviewing the concession of the management of the Torrejón hospital, because there is no objective data to justify it, but Matute is direct when he warns that control and inspection are continuous and that if a questionable practice is proven, forceful measures will be taken. The director also has no evidence that the content of the CEO’s controversial audio was put in writing as an internal order.
The best waiting lists
Matute recalled some data that shows that the care provided at Torrejón Hospital is among the best in the region. Their waiting lists are lower than the average for the Community of Madrid, which is itself lower than the national average. Thus, Torrejón has 42 days of waiting for surgery, compared to 48 days in the Community. And in external consultations, it is 32, compared to 60 in the Community. In addition, he explained that in Torrejón there are almost a hundred thousand more consultations than last year and 700 more operations, with an increase in human resources, up to 1,201 workers.
Advisor’s indignation at the “ignoble accusation” concerning the reuse of disposable equipment: “It’s absolutely false”
The councilor is particularly outraged by the “false” accusation that disposable materials are reused in Torrejón: “It is absolutely false,” she said. “Everything is done correctly, it is a despicable lie which attempts to sow chaos and doubt in the population.” Matute blamed the Sánchez government, which he accuses of trying to damage Madrid’s health system to cover up its corruption scandals.
President Ayuso also expressed her full support for the professionals and patients of Torrejón, in view of the rally convened this Friday in front of the hospital: “All my support to the staff of the Torrejón hospital and its patients. They do not need to be the subject of cowardly political campaigns and demonstrations in the centers where lives are being saved. “There are many places to protest.”
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