Aena says Alicante-Elche airport will keep round-the-clock nursing and ambulance cover

Alicante-Elche airport will retain nursing and ambulance cover 24 hours a day this winter, according to Aena’s clarification to Radio Elche following USO’s complaint about the withdrawal of an on-site doctor overnight.

The company distinguishes between continuing overnight healthcare provision and having a doctor present between midnight and 6am, the six-hour period at the centre of the trade union’s complaint.

Aena describes an exceptional summer extension

In its explanation, published on 23 October, Aena says the service is returning to its usual winter arrangements, during a season when the company says no flights are scheduled at night.

The airport operator maintains that it exceptionally extended the presence of medical staff overnight this summer, providing additional cover that had not been available during previous seasons at the airport.

Aena adds that overnight healthcare last summer and in earlier years was provided by nursing staff, who will continue to be available alongside an ambulance throughout the day and night.

USO maintains its concerns about the doctor’s hours

Javier Grau, USO’s union representative at the airport, had warned that having no doctor on site for six hours could affect the response to possible medical emergencies in the terminal.

The union representative points out that the airport facilities remain open overnight and that the first passengers begin arriving at around four in the morning to catch their flights.

In his complaint on 22 October, he also noted that the last flights of the day can be delayed, meaning that people continue to be present in the terminal during the night.

Grau said at the time that the union had learned of the change through an email and that the company had neither formally informed the works council nor explained the reasons for changing the arrangements.

USO is calling for an on-site doctor to remain available 24 hours a day for passengers and workers; Aena, meanwhile, rejects the suggestion that ending the summer extension means removing all overnight healthcare provision.