Appointments Delay

SOME Marina Alta health centres are allegedly making appointments for six days ahead.

In some cases patients have to wait 10 days to see their doctor, claimed Denia Health Department’s staff committee. 

The committee challenged claims of a maximum wait of 48 hours from Marina Salud, the company contracted to run the area’s health service.

Delays exist because locums are not provided for doctors on leave or off sick. This adds significantly to other doctors’ workload, the committee claimed. 

“It means that patients unable to wait so long have to go to A & E or pay for a private doctor,” a spokesman said.