The CCOO union branch in the Torrevieja Department of Health is deeply concerned and dismayed by the absence of professionals to cover the vacant positions for senior laboratory technicians, which have yet to be filled by the Ministry of Health.

The quality of care provided to the public is being significantly impacted by the unmanageable pressure that this situation is putting on the service. This scenario is resulting in a decrease in the number of tests performed, both in primary care and in hospitalisation.

The absence of specialised personnel is leading to diagnostic delays, restricted testing, and, in the end, a distinct decline in healthcare quality for patients in our health region. Additionally, this department experiences a population increase of threefold during vacation periods, resulting in an additional overflow in a critical service like the laboratory.

The CCOO demands that the Ministry of Health promptly and appropriately scale the structural personnel of the Torrevieja Health Department laboratory to ensure a fast, safe, and high-quality service. The process will involve the incorporation of professionals into all vacant positions.

The Alicante Court has sentenced the man who fatally wounded his partner’s ex-partner in Villena to fifteen years in prison for murder, as per judicial sources. The defendant was scheduled to be sworn in by a popular tribunal; however, the trial was postponed due to a plea bargain. The defendant entered a guilty plea to the crime he committed on July 6th, 2023, during the hearing.

A brief pursuit led to the accused’s apprehending a few hours later. He had driven his vehicle into the western area of the Port of Alicante and broken through the access gate. The suspect subsequently left the port area once more and proceeded towards the fishing basin. He abandoned the vehicle and proceeded to flee on foot following another collision. Officers from the Fiscal and Border Unit of the Alicante Police apprehended him a few minutes later. In addition to the homicide, the defendant will face prosecution for road safety violations. According to sources familiar with the case, the defendant was evidently under the influence of alcohol when the automobile incident occurred on the premises. The defendant had been in pretrial detention since his apprehension for these events at the Port of Alicante.

Approximately 2:00 p.m. on July 6th, 2023, the deceased was murdered at his residence in the San Francisco neighbourhood of “El Poblao.” The detainee entered the residence of his current partner’s ex-husband and began to violently beat on the door in an attempt to compel her to open it. The attacker promptly stabbed the victim, a 42-year-old mechanic by profession, at least three times before fleeing. The victim opened the door. The offence was motivated by jealousy, as evidenced by all available information. It appears that the woman was present at the site when the events took place.

No potential for defence

At the time, the defendant maintained that he was merely attempting to protect himself from a subsequent attack by the victim, who had previously assaulted him with a knife. The indictment has been admitted, thereby refuting this version. The Prosecutor’s Office and the private prosecution both charged him with premeditated murder, contending that the stabbings occurred unexpectedly and without the victim having the opportunity to defend herself. The fatal stabbings prevented the dispatched medical personnel from saving her life.

The Alicante Court has successfully concluded the second plea bargain trial with a jury in less than a week. Another individual pleaded guilty before the weekend to the charge of fatally beating a homeless man with a boulder in a homeless settlement in Tossal de Alicante. He was subsequently sentenced to eleven years in prison. These plea bargains are permissible under the new Law on the Efficiency of Justice, irrespective of the defendant’s sentence. Prior to the reform, the law prohibited plea bargains and required a trial if the requested sentence exceeded six years in prison.

The Smoke-Free Beach flag will be displayed on the 13 beaches in the municipality to increase awareness among users about the importance of respecting the environment, others, and their health while visiting the beaches.

Villajoyosa’s 13 beaches and harbours have been integrated into the Valencian Community’s Smoke-Free Beaches network. The Villajoyosa City Council has requested this membership from the Health Department once again, as explained by Health Councillor Maite Sánchez. The goal is to create healthy environments for citizens, protecting them from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke and its residues.

Consequently, the Smoke-Free Beach flag will be displayed on the beaches of Bol Nou, Carritxal, Centre, Estudiants, L’Esparrelló, La Caleta, Paradís, Puntes del Moro, Racó del Conill, Tio Roig, Torres, Varadero, and Xarco. This flag’s distinctive indication encourages the practice of refraining from smoking on beaches.

Furthermore, we will implement citizen awareness initiatives and informational campaigns regarding environmental protection and tobacco consumption. Sánchez clarified that the aim of this initiative is to promote reverence for the environment, personal well-being, and the health of others. The objective is to transform these spaces into a more environmentally friendly and healthy tourist destination, as tobacco harms the health of bathers and degrades the state of the sand and water, in addition to creating a negative image of the environment.