Hospital Comarcal de la Axarquia, - Vélez-Málaga, Málaga

Mary G.

After recent major invasive surgery in another hospital, I have had reason to visit A&E in this hospital twice in the last week.
A truly awful experience on both occasions. Despite my issue being deemed an " emergency", I waited several hours before being seen, several hours more for investigations and treatment. I can only wonder how many people die here whilst waiting for treatment.
The place is filthy, despite the presence of cleaners.
My main issue is the lack of dignity, privacy and respect shown to patients. I needed an enema to clear a blockage after bowel surgery. Whilst waiting for it to work I was expected to stand in a filthy public toilet, the only toilet in the waiting area, with a door that didn't lock, so open access for anyone, then deal with the aftermath myself. When I asked for some damp cloths so that I could clean myself, the nurse said she was not qualified to do that, what, dampen a few cloths with water?!!! So I did it myself.

NO DIGNITY, NO PRIVACY, NO RESPECT.

This hospital is a disgrace and I would question the qualifications of the medical staff.

Abi B.

100% recommend this hospital as a Brit. My partner has a nut allergy and we had an incident where he had ingested food containing nuts. They were so helpful despite the language barrier and incredibly patient. They were very quick in us seeing someone and had a clear system that was easy to understand. We were in and out in an hour and 10 minutes.

lynne O.

This hospital saved my husband’s life, on our way to the airport after a weeks holiday in the hills.
While driving to the airport my husband became seriously ill, when we stopped to get a bite to eat at a shopping mall before arriving at the airport.
Luckily for us, we had stopped a few roads away from this hospital & a Spanish couple witnessed what was happening ( myself & sons trying to give 1st aid & call ambulance services)
They rushed over & told us to follow in our car( wish I could find this couple to thank them properly) they help save his life.
A&E rushed him through, a xray, followed by an ultrasound then a MRI scan all with arriving within a hour.
Dr came & spoke to us, then surgeon & off he went for 2hr surgical operation.
He was then on a ward for 7 days before discharge, room & ward spotlessly clean, staff everyone of them so polite & supportive to me our children & husband.
Surgeon came everyday to check on him along with Dr, anything being prescribed by dr was done instantly unlike in the uk ( having to wait for hours)
I can honestly say, if this happened when back home in uk. I don’t believe he would have survived due to the long waits for ambulances & in A&E
Makes me realise how bad things are in the NHS after being in a Spanish public hospital

Steve D.

Assessed in triage within 5 minutes in a very busy Urgencias (A&E). Then an hour later I saw a doctor who sent me off for an X-ray with a suspected broken bone in my foot. 2 X-rays took place and hour later, followed by 2 more an hour later when the fifth metatarsal break was confirmed. Then saw a doctor an hour later who told me what treatment was needed and asked if I was on holiday. Told her I was on holiday and she then advised that I couldn't fly home with a full cast so they had to consider what alternatives were. Called back ten minutes later and advised that I could have a semi cast and was given a fit to fly document.
Waited an hour for the cast and was given a pair of surgical trousers to wear as my jeans wouldn't go over it.
Was language a problem - yes it was! However, it was MY PROBLEM and not the hospital staffs. If you visit or live in a country do not expect them to have perfect English. If Spanish people go to hospital in the UK they are unlikely to find any Spanish speakers at all. The cost with a UK health card was for my prescription. A total of just over 4 Euros.

Ben M.

My daughter dislocated her jaw in the swimming pool (!), and we were seen straightaway, had two x rays, jaw realigned, all in about 2hrs. Friendly staff, who were very patient with my poor Spanish, and great paediatric care. So grateful and impressed.

Tomas

I have an ongoing 6 week experience here. It's absolutely abysmal. Genuinely mind boggling. They should be so ashamed that I feel it in their stead. Poor to no inter-department communication. Inconsistent doctor-patient communication. Incredibly long waiting times (be asked to sign in at 6pm via appointment - be lucky if they help you at 10pm). No planning, everything "happens when it happens". You're put in a wheelchair and left to your own devices for literal hours on end. They're not adhering to verbal agreements. Once they even admitted they FORGOT about an appointment we showed up for while we had the paperwork for it in our hands. There's genuine patient neglect where my father was refused to be given prescribed medication and even painkillers w/o a given reason in two separate instances.

There are sympathetic people working there such as some individual nurses, but that's the only good thing I can say about this place.

The most ridiculous thing was when my father needed a colonoscopy. He needed to fast for 24 hours. When those were up, it took another 13 hours (!!) before it was finally his turn. That's 37 hours without food, and during that time they'd still cater him. They'd still send food his way that he had to decline. Can you imagine what it is like when your father is frail and confused and sobbing in bed because he's sick and been starved for over 35 hours, and a nurse still just casually walks in offering a plate of fragrant hot food that you have to keep declining for him?! Absolutely heartbreaking.

It's as close to a prison as it can be without being one. You are treated as a product or a number, not as a human being. You're not allowed to go outside and there's no facilitation for fresh air or daylight. If you have a bed that's on the isle side there's no natural light available as rooms are divided in two with a curtain. All you have are four walls and a fluorescent light. There are no quiet hours. If your neighbour wants to have his TV at volume 100 at 3 in the morning, that's tough on you. Even if you are lucky with your neighbour, employees will amicably shout at each other down the hallway in the middle of the night as if they're at a faire. They'll barge in at random times, drain your blood, jab you with unknown contents, and disappear before you can ask what it was.

Perhaps this nightmare of a place can heal you physically, but it breaks you mentally.

Tracy K.

Was staying in Nerja, I went to this hospital after a fall, was there for over 6 hours in the emergency department where they diagnosed a sprained ankle after an X-ray. Not being able to weight bear, I bought some crutches, arranged assistance at the airport. Went to A&E once home and I have 3 fractures in my ankle, leg and my foot. It was difficult as my Spanish was not good enough and neither was their English. My insurance company sent me to this hospital as there was a clause to say that I had to use a public before a private. I think the language barrier didn’t help, but they missed a very obvious fracture in my ankle, and never x-rayed the leg or foot despite me trying to explain the pain.

RHIAN C.

Was seen the urgent care (after referral) and by O.R.G. both kind and excellent. Seen much quicker than in the UK! If you are referred to an department give your notes/referral to a nurse when they come out otherwise you will be waiting a while..