Due to the increasing need for assistance and the overcrowding of the current SATSE Torrevieja, the Sindical SATSE Torrevieja section sent an urgent request to the department of health in Torrevieja’s management on November 27th, 2024, for the opening of a second PAC in the municipality, specifically at the health centre El Acequión. Outside of the health centre’s hours of care and on holidays, the centres with PAC respond to non-urgent calls.

More than one million

With an estimated population of 106,350 residents according to data from the Torrevieja Municipality, the city has a noticeable increase in population during the high season, particularly during the months of Semana Santa and summer, as a result of tourism. This increase may double or even triple the number of residents, indicating an additional need for assistance that the only point of continued care cannot effectively provide.

The current PAC (at the La Loma Health Centre, though the note does not mention it) is disbanded, which results in delays in patient care and overwork for medical professionals. Additionally, non-urgent cases may be diverted to the hospital, which would unnecessarily affect urgent care services.

The lack of accessibility has also been a concern because Torrevieja’s urban and residential areas are very large, making it difficult to access the only PAC available, especially at times of high demand.

Criteria

In order to ensure high-quality care, a PAC must serve a population of 25,000–30,000 people, per the health system’s guidelines. In this regard, it is evident that the sole facility of this kind in Torrevieja is overburdened, and the opening of a second facility is necessary to ensure health efficiency and raise the standard of care.

The municipality’s Nursing Union union section issues a warning over the population growth that will occur during the approaching Easter period, which also marks the start of a new tourism season. The strain on the already overburdened local health system will be exacerbated by this increase in visitor volume, which may ultimately cause the lone PAC to fail.

In order to make it easier to reach the neighbours who live farthest away from the current PAC, SATSE Torrevieja is asking for the opening of a second PAC in the Acequión Health Centre. The request also calls for the provision of the material and human resources required to guarantee optimal functioning, with a focus on hiring medical and nursing personnel.

The necessity

The union emphasises the project’s necessity and asks for a commitment to planning and scheduling in order to get the new PAC up and running before the upcoming peak season, which includes Easter.

In addition to reducing the burden on the current system, the opening of a second Continuous Care Point would enhance healthcare for all Torrevieja residents, ensuring a quicker, better, and more accessible service while also easing the strain on medical staff.

In addition to urging the authorities to respond to this request as quickly as feasible, SATSE Torrevieja agrees to participate in any initiative or meeting that will enable the completion of this essential project.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, public areas will be closed in preparation for the yellow weather alert.

According to a statement released by the Torrevieja City Council’s Department of Parks and Gardens, a number of public areas will be closed today Tuesday March 4th and Wednesday 5th owing to weather forecasts that indicate severe gusts and rain on Alicante’s southern coast.

In particular, the parks and leisure spaces listed below will continue to be closed:

• Parque Doña Sinforosa
• Parque de las Naciones
• Parque de la Estación
• Parque Aromático
• Área Recreativa «José Eduardo Gil Rebollo»

Since weather can pose a concern in particular places, the closure is in place to protect individuals. The Council has requested that locals and guests follow the directions and exercise caution throughout the remaining parts of the municipality.

To decide when each of the impacted regions can reopen, Torrevieja City Council will keep an eye on the weather.

Early on Saturday morning, Torrevieja firefighters, the Guardia Civil, and the local police rescued a body that was drifting close to the Cala Cornuda cliffs in Torrevieja.

One of the visitors who came to observe the condition of the sea in a region renowned for its breathtaking storm waves set off the alert at around ten to eight on Saturday morning. Until the Torrevieja Local Police patrol arrived, the witness stayed in the vicinity.

In extremely unfavourable maritime storm circumstances, the local police were able to secure the body with a rope and a life preserver until the firefighters from Torrevieja arrived and performed the extraction in a secure location.

Finally, the body—which was in a highly decomposed state—was recovered. He had on specialised boat fishing gear and a wetsuit.

Civil Guard sources said that they are conducting the necessary processes to identify him and ascertain the reason of his death.

The Torrevieja Judicial Police’s Territorial Team has notified the Torrevieja Court on Duty and is conducting the inquiry.

According to people close to the fire department and security forces, it might be a fisherman, but they were unable to identify the deceased’s gender due to the condition of the body following the time spent at sea. The powerful easterly storm over the past three days brought the body to the Torrevieja coast.