Summary
- The Valencian Health Department signs a new labor agreement to improve working conditions at Torrevieja Hospital.
- Reductions in annual work hours for shift workers and increased voluntary training hours now recognized as work time.
- salary improvements for on-call duty,night shifts,and shift work,retroactive from January 1,2025.
- Investment of €5 million in hospital infrastructure and recruitment of 60 new doctors in 2024.
- Efforts underway to increase resident doctor training capacity by 15% through collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
Valencian Health Department Signs New Labor Agreement to Improve Conditions at Torrevieja Hospital
On Monday, the Conseller de Sanidad of the Valencian Community, Marciano Gómez, presided over the signing of a significant labor agreement at the Torrevieja University Hospital, aimed at improving the working conditions of healthcare professionals integrated into the public health system following the recent reversal of the health concession in the region.
Key Improvements in the Labor Agreement
This new agreement is the result of a collaborative dialogue between the Conselleria de Sanidad and various labor unions, introducing important advances over previous commitments.
- Reduced Annual Work Hours: shift workers on morning,afternoon,and night shifts will see a reduction in their annual working hours,easing workload pressures.
- Transition Period Compensation: Specific compensation measures have been established to cover the transition until the new schedules are fully implemented.
- Enhanced Training Opportunities: Voluntary training hours will increase from 20 to 28 hours annually, now recognized as effective working time.
- Salary Increases: Key salary components such as on-call duty pay, night shifts, and shift work bonuses have been improved with retroactive effects from January 1, 2025.
The Purpose Behind the Agreement
Conseller Marciano Gómez emphasized the goal of the pact: to equalize employee working conditions and unify the different legal frameworks within the Valencian public health system, thereby correcting the chaotic and poorly planned effects caused by the previous concession reversal.
“This agreement represents our institutional commitment to job stability, pay equity, and continuous improvement of working conditions in Valencian public healthcare,” Gómez said.
The new framework is highlighted as a model of social dialogue and a crucial step to guarantee quality healthcare services in the Torrevieja health area. Both department management and employee representatives have positively received the agreement, praising the management’s willingness to reach a consensus.
Investment and Staffing Developments
Aside from labor conditions, the signing day also covered other strategic initiatives tied to the region’s growing population and future healthcare demands:
- €5 Million Investment: The Torrevieja Hospital has already received €5 million earmarked for infrastructure upgrades and expansion.
- Increased Medical Staff: Sixty new physicians have been hired since early 2024 to address recruitment challenges, as the hospital is identified as a center of difficult coverage.
- Expansion of Medical Training: The Conseller urged the Ministry of Health to relax accreditation criteria for teaching units, potentially increasing the number of medical residents trained in Valencia by up to 15%.
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Work Hours | Reduction for shift workers + Transition compensation |
| Training | Voluntary hours increased from 20 to 28, recognized as working time |
| Salaries | Improved pay for on-call, night shifts, shift work (retroactive to 1 Jan 2025) |
| Investment | €5M in infrastructure improvements |
| Staffing | 60 new doctors hired in 2024 |
| Training Expansion | Plan to increase medical resident places by 15% |
Looking Ahead: Commitment to Quality Healthcare
Marciano Gómez concluded by reiterating his strong commitment to strengthening the Valencian health system with more specialists and enhanced training capabilities right within the region.
This new labor agreement at Torrevieja Hospital, paired with strategic investments and recruitment efforts, could well serve as a model for improving public healthcare labor conditions across Spain.
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