The Nuclear Medicine unit at the Castelló Provincial Hospital is operating at minimum levels following the departure of another doctor, the second this week. This has left the service, which is essential for oncological diagnosis and is the only one of its kind in the province, with only one of its five doctor positions filled. The hospital has stated that patient care has not been interrupted and that they are working to quickly fill the two vacant positions.
As a result of the staff shortages, patients from areas outside the capital of La Plana have had to travel to Valencia in order to receive their nuclear medicine treatments. The Nuclear Medicine unit at the Castelló Provincial Hospital includes advanced technology for cancer diagnosis such as PET TAC and scintigraphy, which is not available elsewhere in the province.
The difficulties faced by the unit are attributed to tensions between the staff and medical management, and the staff has decreased from five doctors to just one since December, with the remaining doctor being a substitute. The hospital has called for the creation of a temporary employment pool and has also added two new faculty positions in Nuclear Medicine.
Additionally, the Castelló Provincial Hospital operates independently from the regional health network, with its management depending on a Consortium formed by the Ministry. The current Consell aims to integrate the hospital into the autonomous system. Despite the challenges, the hospital remains committed to providing essential care for the community.