The head of Health explained that, despite medical strikes against the Framework Statute promoted by the central government, the Hospital Público de Valdeorras performed 1,221 surgical interventions and 9,581 first consultations in the first six months of this year. In outpatient consultations, the number of pending patients decreased from 3,113 to 1,669 (a 47% reduction), and the average waiting time was reduced from 87.5 to 49.8 days.
With 49.8 days of waiting, the Hospital Público de Valdeorras has the shortest waiting time for consultations in all of Galicia, 20 days below the regional average. In surgery, the waiting time increased by 3.5 days due to the strike, but the hospital is the fourth with the shortest waiting time in Galicia and has no patients waiting more than six months to be operated on.
For diagnostic tests, waiting times are 12.4 days for conventional radiology, 41.3 for MRIs, and 29.3 for endoscopies. Regarding emergency care, the Valdeorras area has a basic life support ambulance in Barco de Valdeorras, resources in Trives, Viana do Bolo, A Veiga, Quiroga, Castro Caldelas, and A Gudiña, in addition to two medicalized helicopters and resources from the hospital and PACs.
The emergency medical transport network in the area received 10,575 calls last year, generating 3,873 ambulance services, 324 primary care medicalized transfers, and 15 helicopter interventions. With the next contract, the two helicopters will increase annual hours and capabilities, making Galicia the first region with a helicopter operational 24 hours a day, capable of flying at night.
Regarding silicosis patients, it was recalled that a registry and a pneumology consultation exist in Barco de Valdeorras, integrated into the pulmonary diseases unit. As of August 31, pneumology has attended 583 patients and performed 800 spirometries, with no waiting list.
Staff stability has improved, with 85% of doctors (62 specialists) having permanent positions and a reduction in vacancies from 30% to 15%. The hospital's service portfolio is expanding with consultations in pneumology, cardiology, neurology, rheumatology, gastroenterology, and an oncohematology day hospital.
