The CCOO Región de Murcia criticises the Servicio Murciano de Salud (SMS) for neglecting follow-up on psychosocial risk assessments in hospital emergency departments. In a post on elDiario.es Murcia the union called for an independent “auditoría técnica” to check whether recommended measures had actually been implemented and were effective.
According to CCOO, evaluation reports have been available since 2018, but follow-up measures are not reliably monitored by the relevant bodies. Without systematic follow-up, recommendations remain formalities rather than meaningfully reducing pressures such as stress, fatigue or burnout. In particular, Urgencias hospitalarias are under exceptionally high pressure; according to the union, they account for a large proportion of inpatient admissions.
The SMS refers on its public information platforms (Murciasalud) to existing prevention and training activities. In 2025, for example, more than 6,200 employees received training in self-protection and emergency management; dozens of workshops were also held to help staff handle conflict situations. Institutional structures include the Comité de Seguridad y Salud as well as programmes to prevent aggression in health centres. The elDiario.es article did not include an SMS statement on the specific allegation of inadequate follow-up.
The union sees the problem as structural as well as procedural: inadequate staff scheduling, short notice and understaffing exacerbate psychosocial risks in emergency departments (Spanish: Urgencias). It is therefore calling not only for documents, but for verifiable organisational and staffing measures, with deadlines, responsibilities and indicators.
Occupational health and safety lawyers point out that legal requirements for psychosocial risk assessments do not end with taking stock. These assessments form the basis for binding preventive measures, whose implementation must be documented and monitored. Where this is done inadequately, the Inspección de Trabajo can intervene under the relevant regulations. Experts also stress that robust follow-up serves not only to protect staff health, but also patient safety: persistent overwork increases the risk of exhaustion and errors.
The dispute exposes a conflict of objectives: the SMS highlights its prevention efforts and training, while CCOO Región de Murcia questions whether the measures already recommended are effective across the board. The key will be whether implementation can be demonstrated against clear criteria – and whether it leads to a tangible reduction in pressure in the emergency departments of the Región de Murcia.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).