The political party Más Madrid has intensified pressure regarding the management of the bedbug infestation at the Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, stating that the initial alerts about the presence of these insects date back to May 14th. This is nearly three weeks before the measures that have recently come to light were implemented.
The party, led in Alcalá by Rosa Romero, is urgently seeking explanations from both the Consejería de Sanidad (Regional Ministry of Health) and the hospital's management to clarify what transpired between the first alert and the subsequent actions. According to a statement from Más Madrid, hospital staff had reportedly warned of the infestation by mid-May, questioning why interventions did not commence until June 2nd and suggesting that earlier action could have prevented the spread of the problem.
The central question posed by Más Madrid is the perceived inaction by the hospital's administration in the weeks following the initial warnings. The political organization considers the situation no longer a mere isolated incident, especially after the hospital itself acknowledged the presence of bedbugs and initiated intensive disinfection. This issue coincides with a tense period in the Emergency Department, where staff had already been reporting organizational problems and excessive workloads, which Más Madrid links to broader structural difficulties within the hospital.
The recent resignation of the Emergency Department's coordinator has heightened concerns, with various local media outlets connecting this departure to the tension surrounding the bedbug crisis. Más Madrid insists that this event requires immediate clarification, occurring as it does in a service already facing prior organizational challenges. Municipal spokesperson Rosa Romero has highlighted the severity of the situation, mentioning patient transfers, closed-off areas, and the potential need to remove or destroy affected furniture.
Furthermore, Más Madrid has focused on the center's environmental conditions, citing staff reports of temperatures exceeding 31 degrees Celsius in some areas, a particularly concerning circumstance following the relocation of Observation patients to the sixth floor.
From Más Madrid's viewpoint, the incident at the Príncipe de Asturias signifies a deeper deterioration in Madrid's public healthcare system. The party calls for increased investment, reinforcement of staffing, improvements in facility maintenance, and a more responsive approach to incidents affecting both professionals and patients. Meanwhile, the hospital continues to implement specific disinfestation treatments and monitor the affected areas.
