Doctors at Torrevieja’s Acequión Health Center Praise New 24‑Hour PAC but Warn of Precarious Working Conditions
- New 24‑hour urgent care point (PAC) at Acequión opened 1 August to reduce pressure on La Loma Health Center and Torrevieja Hospital.
- Service covers weekends continuously and nights on weekdays (15:00-08:00), lowering long waits and high patient loads.
- Staff report makeshift facilities: folding beds in a meeting room, minimal kitchen equipment purchased by staff, and lack of proper rest area for 17‑hour shifts.
- Guard staffing: 2 doctors,2 nurses,1 orderly (celador) and 1 security guard per shift at acequión; La Loma remains with smaller night team.
- On‑site public‑space wildlife (roosters, hens, chicks, rabbits) raise hygiene and infection concerns.
- Health management has agreed to improve conditions by repurposing a former ambulance staff room, currently used as storage.
Introduction
The new urgent care point (Punto de Atención Continuada, PAC) at the Acequión Health Center in Torrevieja was launched to ease the summer surge in emergency demand. Since opening on August 1, it has taken pressure off the La Loma Health Center and the emergency department at Torrevieja University Hospital. However,frontline medical staff say the physical conditions for on‑duty teams remain inadequate,with improvised sleeping and dining arrangements and reports of animals roaming the health center grounds.
Why Acequión PAC Was Opened: Reducing Overload on La Loma and the Hospital
Torrevieja – a coastal city that rises in population during the summer – saw the La Loma PAC attend an average of 230 patients a day and peaks up to 340 in summer months. To distribute that demand, the regional health authority (Conselleria de Sanidad) opened the Acequión PAC.
Hours and Impact
- Operational since August 1.
- Weekend coverage: continuous 24‑hour urgent care.
- Weekday coverage: nights from 15:00 to 08:00 the next morning.
- Result: reduced waiting times and fewer overload peaks at La Loma and hospital emergency services.
Staffing and Shift Structure
staffing at Acequión is reinforced compared with La Loma during guard hours:
| Center | Staff per Guard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Acequión PAC | 2 doctors, 2 nurses, 1 orderly, 1 security guard | Reinforced team to handle night/weekend demand |
| La Loma PAC (night shifts) | 1 doctor, 1 nurse, orderly, security guard | Smaller night team; previously absorbed heavy daily load |
Working Conditions: Makeshift Facilities and Staff Expenses
Despite the clear organizational benefit, medical staff told INFORMACIÓN that the physical setup for the new 24‑hour service was improvised:
- Sleeping facilities: two folding beds placed in the meetings/joint room; the beds arrived on the first day and were unpacked and assembled by doctors and nurses themselves.
- Break area: staff created a small kitchenette using their own funds to buy a coffee maker, toaster, utensils and a small refrigerator.
- Rest needs: personnel frequently enough begin these guard shifts after a morning shift, meaning some work continuously for up to 17 consecutive hours (15:00-08:00 guard on top of the morning schedule).
- Storage and space: management has promised to convert a former ambulance staff room (currently full of stored items) into a proper staff area.
What staff have said (paraphrased)
Healthcare workers who communicated with the press value the decision to redistribute demand but stressed that the rollout should have included proper planning for staff rest and safety. they have reported the defects to their unions and continue to press management for quicker improvements.
Public‑Space Animals: A nuisance and Potential Health Risk
The center’s outdoor areas - including a small garden and parking – are frequented by roaming poultry (roosters, hens, chicks) and rabbits. Staff have photographed and filmed the animals on site. Health workers warn these animals can act as a vector for disease transmission – for example, leptospirosis is cited as a possible risk - and create additional sanitation concerns for patients and visitors at the main reception.
The local animal population traces to nearby parks (Parque de la Estación and Parque de las Islas Canarias) and ultimately to a deliberate release of birds in Parque de las Naciones in the 1990s. The phenomenon was first highlighted in the local press in 2020 and persists today.
Official Response and Next Steps
- The health management (gerencia del departamento) has acknowledged staff concerns and committed to habilitating a larger room formerly used by ambulance staff to improve resting and storage conditions.
- As of the reporting, the management had not publicly answered specific criticisms about the improvised nature of current facilities.
- Staff and unions are monitoring progress and expect concrete timelines for the conversion of the ambulance room and provision of proper sleeping and kitchen facilities.
Why This Matters: Patient Care and Staff Safety
Key issues for readers and local residents:
- Service availability: The Acequión PAC reduces long waits and relieves overburdened emergency departments,improving access to urgent care when demand spikes.
- staff wellbeing: Proper rest areas and facilities are essential for clinicians who can work double shifts lasting up to 17 consecutive hours. Exhaustion increases the risk of errors and reduces quality of care.
- Public health: Roaming animals near healthcare entrances can raise infection control concerns and affect hygiene for vulnerable patients.
Quick Takeaways
- Acequión’s 24‑hour PAC is easing emergency pressures in Torrevieja but was launched with inadequate on‑site facilities for staff.
- Medical teams have had to improvise beds and kitchen appliances, some bought personally, while management promises improvements.
- Persistent wildlife on the premises adds a public‑health wrinkle that local authorities need to address.
What to watch next
- Whether the department converts the former ambulance room into a proper staff rest area and clears the storage.
- Union and staff reports on improvements and whether management provides official timelines.
- Municipal measures to control the roaming poultry and rabbit populations near health facilities to reduce sanitary risk.
Reporting: Based on information published by INFORMACIÓN and statements from healthcare staff.
Sources
- INFORMACIÓN (Torrevieja local news) – “Médicos de Torrevieja piden condiciones para el Centro de Salud del Acequión” – https://www.informacion.es/vega-baja/2025/09/20/medicos-torrevieja-piden-condiciones-centro-de-salud-acequion-121746761.html