El Hospital de Dénia has closed the financial year 2021 with an average surgical delay of 54,08 days and a rate of CMA –Major Ambulatory Surgery- of 65%. That is, 65 out of 100 surgeries that are performed in the health center are without admission.
Throughout the past year 11.000 surgeries were performed, 10% more than in 2020. According to the Director of Assistance of the Department of Health of Dénia -DSD-, the Dr Pedro Clemente, "The data are excellent, taking into account the prioritization of care for COVID patients, during the three peaks of care pressure that have marked the activity throughout 2021".
The first, and with the greatest impact on hospitalization, occurred in the first quarter of the year, a period in which a large part of the programmed activity had to be blocked, redirecting efforts to assistance derived from the pandemic.
The Dianense health center hospitalized more than 780 patients with COVID, of whom 10% had to receive intensive care. According to Dr. Clemente, "despite the figures, the hospitalization rate for COVID decreased progressively in 2021, thanks to the Vaccination Plan that, in the case of Marina Alta, reaches 80% of the protected population”.
Throughout the second and third quarters of 2021 and, after the implementation of the Action Plan for Waiting Lists, the programmed activity was maintained at more than acceptable levels, both surgical and outpatient consultations. Thus, hospital specialists attended more than 355.000 consultations last year, with an average delay of 20 days in the first visits and 60 in subsequent visits.
On the other hand, waiting times for diagnostic tests have been 32 days for Imaging Diagnosis and 60 for Digestive Endoscopy, Interventional Radiology and the Pain Unit.
It should be emphasized, Clemente adds that, "despite the healthcare pressure, the activity in Oncological Surgery has always been maintained and, in collaboration with Public Health of Dénia, the plans for the prevention of breast and colon cancer".
“These results, adds Dr. Clemente, have been possible thanks to the combined and coordinated effort of the Primary Care and hospital professionals, to whom I thank for one more exercise, the effort, the dedication, the tenacity and the well-demonstrated professionalism. during these difficult times, from the care point of view ”.
For the DSD Healthcare Director, the year also closes with the addition of Neurosurgery to the portfolio of services, which represents a notable improvement for patients in the Marina Alta, in terms of accessibility and waiting times.
In addition, Pedro Clemente highlights the full incorporation of the Dénia Health Department to the Ribera healthcare group and the obtaining of two TOP 20 awards in Global Hospital Management and in the Nervous System Area.
