The National Police has evacuation partly due to Asturias Central University Hospital (HUCA) this Wednesday night bomb threat over the phone He said it was sent from a confidential phone number at 10:15 p.m. and was “taken seriously” by the security forces and bodies, although they gave “little grain of truth”. In any event, members of Tedax (Technical Specialist in Deactivating Explosive Devices) and canine units specializing in detecting explosives proceeded to carry out appropriate checks within the plumbing.
It was around half past eleven when the partial evacuation of HUCA, which would in principle be limited to the Emergency Service and waiting rooms, began; and patients with mild or no mobility problems. The sources of the Ministry of Health emphasized that the patients who were evacuated from the emergency room and those who came after the threat were transferred to other hospitals.
The evacuation did not reach the most severely ill or those with reduced mobility, although it did reach their attendants. Last night, the doctor in charge of a sensitive service at the Hospital said, “I’m on duty, I hired the minimum staff.” With minimal required personnel caring for patients who could not be evacuated, National Police agents, including some canine units, began scanning the Emergency Room in search of a possible explosive device. Outside, healthcare workers, patients and their relatives took shelter in the parking lot entrances while waiting for the result of the threat.
SESPA director Conchita Saavedra and her entire team went to the emergency room. “Planned protocols are being developed,” he told LA NUEVA ESPAÑA of the Prensa Ibérica group. President Barbón sent a message of “peace and quiet” after midnight.
Asturias health authorities assurance message and ensure that they have established a telephone service team to respond to anxiety calls from relatives of patients who present to HUCA. In this sense, the sources of the Ministry of Health demand the use of the telephone service number 112, which can provide information about the progress of evacuation, although clinical information can not be given about any patient. In addition, Sespa reduced emergency pressure, both in mild cases and family members, by directing patients to other health institutions through 112.
Suddenly, minutes later in the morning, the Sespa manager announced that Patients’ access to the emergency room returned to normal of HUCA. Relatives of the patients entered the waiting room again. “Nine hospital floors and emergency areas have been confirmed to be clean. Now other areas of the hospital are being inspected,” said Conchita Saavedra.
About 6,400 people work at HUCA. The health complex is equipped with close to a thousand beds.