Moral misery
While thousands of elderly people languish in centers plagued by chronic staff shortages, inadequate healthcare, and decaying maintenance, the Madrid government failed to spend €61.5 million earmarked for improving their care. This was not a mistake or an isolated incident: it was a political decision. This public money, intended to dignify the final years of life for those who sustained this country, ended up enriching the private Quirón Salud group. An indecent transfer of resources from the vulnerable to the privileged. This is the PP's model: slash public services until they suffocate, and then justify private business as the inevitable solution.
Miguel Fernández-Palacios Gordon
Madrid
First-class and third-class culture
For some years now, culture has been in struggle, particularly in community centers. And the curious thing is that this much-loved, promoted, and supposedly essential culture is managed by the Barcelona City Council. This struggle falls to the workers, who have long suffered under an outdated leisure sector agreement, completely unadapted to current realities and with some of the lowest salaries in the industry. Now, culture is being directly prostituted. While civil servants enjoy better salaries, genuine adjustments to their schedules, and effective work-life balance, those of us who defend these rights and champion them find that the new cultural management tenders conceal poisoned improvements.
Workers expect salary increases and improved hours, but all of this comes at a very high price: endless shifts until almost midnight, no work-life balance, and split shifts. New inventions like "nightlife" or longer opening hours than a shopping mall mean that neighborhood cultural facilities are open from Monday to Sunday without any real purpose. Without being able to have a proper lunch break, with fragmented and mandatory breaks that artificially lengthen the workday, with constant rotations and schedules so changeable that it's practically impossible to learn them or lead a normal life.
How can it be that every four years, with each new management period, everything gets worse? How can there be so little stability and so little humanity? Workers are forced to leave their jobs or accept, without any room for negotiation, new imposed conditions. Neighborhood culture, yes. Political culture, no.
Nieves Borrell
Barcelona
Thanks to the Hospital of the Holy Cross and Saint Paul
For four years, my son was treated at Sant Pau Hospital, in the Sarcome Unit. They were difficult years, with ups and downs, but we were surrounded by excellent staff. I am a doctor, and we have a great public healthcare system, which I can attest to.
My gratitude goes to the doctors, who are not only great professionals but also wonderful people. I want to highlight the work of the head of the Sarcome Unit, Dr. I. Gracia; the oncologist Dr. A. Sebio; the thoracic surgeons JC Trujillo and Dr. J. Belda; the palliative care team, Dr. S. Martínez; and the radiation oncologist Dr. J. Isern.
Yes, I am grateful, even though my son passed away this November at the age of 22. One thing doesn't diminish the other; they did everything that science could offer. And finally, I want to thank my son Pablo for facing this illness in such an incredible way and for giving us a life lesson through his resilience and great sense of humor. Forever, Pablo; your family and friends will always carry you in our hearts.
Ivana Jordà Santamaria
Barcelona