Emergency services in the dark: the blackout left Pallars Sobirà without a primary health care facility

BarcelonaThe Sort Primary Care Center (CAP) is the only one offering 24-hour in-person care in the entire Pallars Sobirà region. In total, there are fifteen municipalities and more than 7,000 people who, when faced with an emergency, rely on this center as a reference. On Monday, during the massive blackout that turned the Iberian Peninsula upside down, its workers and the City Council discovered that it had no generator and, therefore, learned that same day that they had no alternative source of energy to guarantee assistance to everyone who needed it. They had no electricity, telephone, or internet. Nor did the Department of Health provide any explanation. For eight hours, the center's professionals had to rely on their hands and knees to provide care to those in need, wearing headlamps and without adequate equipment to treat patients. "We feel abandoned," the center complained.

While doctors were on call in other municipalities that could be reached in case of emergencies, and a significant portion of the health services have an external generator in case of a power outage, the blackout revealed that the Pallars Sobirà Primary Health Care Center (CPC) "is not prepared to guarantee assistance to citizens" in emergencies, according to Farré. The City Council has already warned via social media that it will file "a formal request with the Department of Health so that the Primary Health Care Center (CPC) has an alternative energy source that guarantees the maintenance of basic services in emergency situations, especially considering its role as a regional reference point." Farré clarifies that they understand the exceptional circumstances of the moment and assures that they do not want to make a fool of themselves, but they do demand that a solution be provided in case of future mishaps.

With no power available, the professionals quickly mobilized to find solutions once the power grid went down. One of the critical points was the medications, which require refrigeration to prevent spoilage. These were ultimately transferred to the local Mossos d'Esquadra police station, as it does have an alternative system in case of a power failure. The CAP staff also went to the village residence to ensure that all the users were safe. When they confirmed they had a generator and didn't need assistance, they returned to duty at the CAP. However, in precarious conditions. Fortunately, during the afternoon, most of the emergencies that arrived at the center were less serious, but the staff warn that in the case of a heart attack or stroke, they wouldn't have been able to respond quickly enough to ensure the patient's survival.

A life at stake

In fact, beyond an anxiety attack and a couple of fractures, the most serious emergency that arrived at the center during the blackout was a person with acute respiratory failure due to a decompensated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If the condition worsens, it requires hospitalization. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is the fourth cause of death worldwide.

Since the SEM headquarters in the region is in the same building, they were able to activate an ambulance in person, but the center was without personnel during that time. The mayor of Sort. At the same time, the firefighters and the Mossos d'Esquadra obtained a generator from a neighboring municipality, and at 7:00 p.m., the first floor of the CAP regained power. to ensure the center has an alternative source of energy.

That same Monday night, after a full day with virtually no healthcare in Pallars Sobirà, the president of the Generalitat (Catalan government), Salvador Illa, assured everyone that all alternative power systems were functioning correctly in the healthcare centers. 5,000 medical tests and 500 operations were carried out to ensure they had sufficient power and to prevent travel of users at the most uncertain time.