Andalusia's Junta to Hire 119 Healthcare Professionals for Urgent Breast Cancer Screenings

The Junta of Andalucía announced on Wednesday its decisive action to strengthen healthcare services for breast cancer screenings. In a move aimed at rectifying previous shortcomings, the government will hire 119 new healthcare professionals dedicated to the breast units of hospitals throughout the community. These new hires will work during weekends and holidays to ensure that by November 30, all affected women have undergone the necessary screenings. During a press conference, spokesperson Carolina España unveiled the government's emergency plan, which includes not only the recruitment of additional personnel but also an increase in the budget allocated for the initiative. This response comes after alarming reports surfaced regarding failures in breast cancer screenings that officials assert should never have occurred. Starting last Thursday, the Junta has begun reaching out to the women who were impacted, including those who hadn't been informed until now and those who require follow-up tests. España detailed that a significant number of incidents are being reported at the Virgen del Rocío Hospital in Seville, where approximately 1,800 women have been contacted to schedule their checkups within the next seven to eight weeks. The total extraordinary budget allocation for this early detection program for breast cancer is approximately 12 million euros. This funding will facilitate not only the hiring of new personnel but also further enhancements to the existing healthcare framework. Of the 119 healthcare professionals, the recruitment will consist of 65 specialist doctors in radiodiagnosis, 20 nurses, 18 specialist technicians in radiodiagnosis, and 16 nursing auxiliary care technicians. This initiative marks a critical step forward in addressing the urgent needs of women facing potential breast cancer diagnoses, ensuring timely access to necessary medical evaluations and fostering confidence in the public health system. The Junta is committed to transparency and effectiveness as it undertakes this vital task. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2