Dear colleagues,
As you all know, yesterday the Health councillor, Ana Barceló, unfortunately confirmed the Generalitat Valenciana’s unilateral decision to not extend Torrevieja Health Department’s contract with Ribera Salud.
I firmly believe this is the wrong decision for the professionals and citizens in this area, and worst of all is that I am certain that there are voices within the Government that believe so too, as well as within civil society.
Also, the Valencian Government has the data corresponding to the previous reversion to direct public administration of the Health Department of La Ribera, whose waiting list has grown threefold in two years, whose professionals are up in arms and which costs the Valencian people upward of 80 million euros a year. Furthermore, in the case of Torrevieja, this decision is even more serious and incomprehensible because of the terrible social and healthcare crisis and financial recession that we are living through. We are in the middle of a global pandemic and our leaders are going to allow their political needs to take time away from what is really important: ensuring citizens have access to the best healthcare.
The councillor’s unimaginable announcement yesterday cannot be justified in terms of quality or efficiency, even less so in terms of health results. Because this department is the best in the Valencian Community thanks to the excellent work, commitment and efforts of all the people that make its day-to-day operation possible. And we are not the ones saying it. The official reports and audits of the Generalitat Valenciana itself say so: patient satisfaction is higher, waiting times are shorter and the best healthcare is provided, thanks to the proven real commitment to healthcare plans, investments, technology and human and material resources. And this has been ratified by independent organisms that certify the quality of the healthcare provided to citizens in the Torrevieja area, such as The Joint Commission International.
But I am not writing to you to butter you up, because no one knows better than you the magnificent work you have done and continue to do during these 14 years in such a special region, with a multinational population for whom, in many cases, without a doubt, the quality of healthcare received is a reason for their residence here. And there is no question that what the Valencian Government want to do to this department will reach Europe and the authorities of the 138 nationalities that live here, with facts and figures.
Our intention, as you know, was and is to extend this commitment with the region for five more years. This is why we presented an investment plan with clear, real proposals agreed upon with the local councils, valued at 40 million euros. For this reason, we also recently signed a new collective bargaining agreement, with conditions regarding reconciliation, equality, training, professional career and internal promotion that no other public hospital in the Valencian Community has.
If your attitude and commitment in the last 14 years has been outstanding, your response during the hardest months of this pandemic that you continue to deliver today confirms that you are Ribera Salud’s main asset. And I take this opportunity to reaffirm my gratitude and admiration. Despite what some try to extend, this crisis has proven that public-private collaboration is essential, and that the only way we will get through this complex situation is together.
I will not deceive you. After yesterday’s announcement, this is the beginning of a period of uncertainty where we all have many questions and the Health Council has very few answers. This is the truth.
But in this letter, I want to convey trust, hope and perseverance. We will continue to prove that we are a great team and that we will not give up looking after the health of our citizens with the best professionals, the latest technology and the highest safety guarantees for you while you do your job.
Remember that the future is not set in stone. Who would have thought that 8 months ago we would be living in lockdown for months because of a virus and that still today we would be living a global pandemic. No one knows where or how we will be in a year.
I am committed to continue working with a positive attitude, seeking joint forces and resources, public and private, to ensure that citizens have the Healthcare they deserve and that you as professionals continue to do your job with all the necessary means, the highest guarantees and the certainty that, as we have seen in Alzira, others cannot give you. I refuse to believe that the message of unity and call to public-private collaboration by the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Ximo Puig, last October 9, are hollow just five days later.
We all hoped this day would never come, but it has. I ask for your patience and trust and encourage you to continue to highlight the importance of the work, commitment, and vocation of the public service that Ribera Salud has always displayed.
We are all in this together.
Dear colleagues,
As you all know, yesterday the Health councillor, Ana Barceló, unfortunately confirmed the Generalitat Valenciana’s unilateral decision to not extend Torrevieja Health Department’s contract with Ribera Salud.
I firmly believe this is the wrong decision for the professionals and citizens in this area, and worst of all is that I am certain that there are voices within the Government that believe so too, as well as within civil society.
Also, the Valencian Government has the data corresponding to the previous reversion to direct public administration of the Health Department of La Ribera, whose waiting list has grown threefold in two years, whose professionals are up in arms and which costs the Valencian people upward of 80 million euros a year. Furthermore, in the case of Torrevieja, this decision is even more serious and incomprehensible because of the terrible social and healthcare crisis and financial recession that we are living through. We are in the middle of a global pandemic and our leaders are going to allow their political needs to take time away from what is really important: ensuring citizens have access to the best healthcare.
The councillor’s unimaginable announcement yesterday cannot be justified in terms of quality or efficiency, even less so in terms of health results. Because this department is the best in the Valencian Community thanks to the excellent work, commitment and efforts of all the people that make its day-to-day operation possible. And we are not the ones saying it. The official reports and audits of the Generalitat Valenciana itself say so: patient satisfaction is higher, waiting times are shorter and the best healthcare is provided, thanks to the proven real commitment to healthcare plans, investments, technology and human and material resources. And this has been ratified by independent organisms that certify the quality of the healthcare provided to citizens in the Torrevieja area, such as The Joint Commission International.
But I am not writing to you to butter you up, because no one knows better than you the magnificent work you have done and continue to do during these 14 years in such a special region, with a multinational population for whom, in many cases, without a doubt, the quality of healthcare received is a reason for their residence here. And there is no question that what the Valencian Government want to do to this department will reach Europe and the authorities of the 138 nationalities that live here, with facts and figures.
Our intention, as you know, was and is to extend this commitment with the region for five more years. This is why we presented an investment plan with clear, real proposals agreed upon with the local councils, valued at 40 million euros. For this reason, we also recently signed a new collective bargaining agreement, with conditions regarding reconciliation, equality, training, professional career and internal promotion that no other public hospital in the Valencian Community has.
If your attitude and commitment in the last 14 years has been outstanding, your response during the hardest months of this pandemic that you continue to deliver today confirms that you are Ribera Salud’s main asset. And I take this opportunity to reaffirm my gratitude and admiration. Despite what some try to extend, this crisis has proven that public-private collaboration is essential, and that the only way we will get through this complex situation is together.
I will not deceive you. After yesterday’s announcement, this is the beginning of a period of uncertainty where we all have many questions and the Health Council has very few answers. This is the truth.
But in this letter, I want to convey trust, hope and perseverance. We will continue to prove that we are a great team and that we will not give up looking after the health of our citizens with the best professionals, the latest technology and the highest safety guarantees for you while you do your job.
Remember that the future is not set in stone. Who would have thought that 8 months ago we would be living in lockdown for months because of a virus and that still today we would be living a global pandemic. No one knows where or how we will be in a year.
I am committed to continue working with a positive attitude, seeking joint forces and resources, public and private, to ensure that citizens have the Healthcare they deserve and that you as professionals continue to do your job with all the necessary means, the highest guarantees and the certainty that, as we have seen in Alzira, others cannot give you. I refuse to believe that the message of unity and call to public-private collaboration by the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Ximo Puig, last October 9, are hollow just five days later.
We all hoped this day would never come, but it has. I ask for your patience and trust and encourage you to continue to highlight the importance of the work, commitment, and vocation of the public service that Ribera Salud has always displayed.
We are all in this together.
All the best,
