Dénia Health Department has quadrupled care for COVID patients in the last month
However, hospitalisations have not risen substantially due to the high percentage of vaccinated people in the Marina Alta.
Thursday 30th December 2021 – XÀBIA AL DÍA with Mike Smith
Dénia Health Department (DSD) has quadrupled care for COVID patients (diagnostic tests, treatment and follow-up) throughout the month of December.
Dr. Pedro Clemente, director of DSD, explained that “in the last two weeks the growth in the number of infections has been exponential, so that Primary Care has been prioritized and focused a large part of its activity on the management of all the pathology derived from the pandemic. However, this great impact does not translate in the same way to hospitalization due, above all, to the percentage of the vaccinated population in the Marina Alta, some 80% of all those over 12 years of age“.
During December, the DSD staff have been reinforced with fifty professionals, including doctors, nurses, TCAE, support staff and administrative staff. The objective is to meet the increased demand for care and the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine among the population of the region.
The DSD Healthcare Director has expressed his gratitude to all the health professionals of the health department “for the effort, tenacity and professionalism well demonstrated throughout the successive peaks of healthcare pressure, registered since the pandemic began“.
Dénia Hospital has held seven Vaccination Open Days, without prior appointment, for people over 60 years of age, incomplete vaccination courses and first doses. These special vaccination sessions have also taken place in the health centres of Xàbia, Calp, Teulada and Gata de Gorgos. In addition, the Director of Nursing of the DSD, Natalia Casado, has assured that “the first phase of vaccination in the schools in the Marina Alta has been successfully completed before the Christmas holidays, in the age group 9-11 years“.
Action Protocols if suspected of COVID infection
Patients are recommended to go to the DSD health centres always by appointment, except in an emergency. In addition, people should be reminded of the importance of making responsible use of emergency telephones, both in health centres and in the hospital. For the resolution of doubts or to request a prior appointment, there is the Virtual Reception counter.virtual@marinasalud.es or the APP Virtual Counter MS or GVA Salut.
The objective is to improve accessibility, through different channels and in extended hours – Call Centre, Web, WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS, e-mail, and Apps. In addition, a series of explanatory videos and graphic information are available online here to explain about the different access routes and how to act in the different scenarios that may arise.
Visits and Accompaniment to Patients
Since December 23rd, visits to patients admitted to health centres have been prohibited. The presence of a maximum of two companions (who must alternate between them) is only allowed in cases of need due to age, pregnancy / childbirth, disability, disabling illness or similar situation, both in the hospital and in other health facilities . The two people who act as companions will always be the same and the change between the two will take place outside the health facility. In addition, it is recommended that both are vaccinated with a full schedule and comply with prevention and social distance measures.
Anyone who has respiratory symptoms, fever, or has been identified as close contact with a positive patient in the past 10 days, should refrain from accompanying a patient.
In the case of the companions of COVID patients, they will not be able to stay in common areas.
