Rumours abound regarding new Camposol Hospital

After a social media frenzy, hospital management are asked to comment

The new Mederi Guadalentin hospital on the Camposol urbanisation has recently been the focus of social media rumours and speculation, with an online media article adding to the confusion.

In an effort to get the facts, Camposol Today and the Camposol Business Association approached the hospital for comment and were invited to a meeting to address the various stories circulating online.

The following are answers given by the hospital’s spokesman to the questions and assertions raised on several social media groups:

Has the Camposol hospital closed?

No, the hours of opening have changed. Initially the hospital was open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to study the traffic flow through the hospital. This gave the management an insight over three months into the busier periods and times when there were fewer and sometimes no patients arriving. It was clear that the busiest time was in the mornings on weekdays, with afternoons being very quiet and virtually no arrivals during night-time hours.

It was easy then to assess that the demand was not enough to keep the hospital open for such long hours, so these have been reduced to make the operating hours economically viable.

So what are the opening hours now?

Monday to Friday from 8am to 3pm.

Has the hospital been sold to new owners?

No, the hospital has the same owners.

Does the hospital have the necessary licences?

Yes, the hospital has all the licences for the equipment and services offered.

In an article in a local online Spanish media outlet, a claim was made that there was a demonstration by the staff. Is this true?

That is false, there was no demonstration and the image accompanying the article showing over 30 staff standing outside the hospital entrance was taken at the opening of the hospital at the beginning of August.

The article also reports that two companies are in line to become the new owners. Is that correct?

No, the two companies mentioned are already shareholders in Mederi Salud and have been since the planning stage.

A recent press release from the hospital suggested that contracts were due to be signed with private medical insurance companies. Is that still the case?

Yes, although it does take time as the contracts have to be agreed and inspections by the insurance companies have to be carried out. It is hoped that the first and probably biggest company are going to complete the contract very soon. This may bring about a situation where the opening hours need to be extended.

Will the hospital be able to accept patients who are registered with the Spanish regional health service?

That is one of the primary aims and the management are making plans to that end.

Some people have suggested that it would have been better to get an agreement with the health authority before building the hospital?

That would have been impossible as the regional health authority has contracts with numerous private hospitals. These are not awarded in the hope that a hospital will be built and operational in the future. Hospitals have to have the facilities available for inspection when applying and even an existing hospital cannot just apply at a time of their choosing to enter into a contract.

The system is that the regional health authority will initiate a tendering process when all contracts for private hospitals will be made available and all private hospitals will be able to put forward a tender for the services and treatments they provide. A new tendering process is currently overdue as it has not taken place in Murcia for 10 years now. This may have been delayed by regional government funding. The hospital management are waiting for an announcement that a new contract window will be initiated, at which time tenders will be lodged.

The management are confident that the hospital will secure contracts and this will raise more demand for services and treatments which will in turn extend opening hours further.

Is the hospital planning to accept foreign holiday health insurance and possibly GHIC cards?

Yes, negotiations are ongoing with insurance companies and the Consulate in Alicante will be contacted with respect to GHIC cards, but the hospital will have to prove that there is a local demand to justify GHIC acceptance.

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