Francisco Ibáñez hung up the robe a year and a half ago. After 39 years practicing medicine as an anesthetist, he decided to end his career at La Fe Hospital in Valencia to dedicate himself to his family and recover the free time that he could not enjoy during his professional stage. He went to live in the country with his wife and even began to cultivate a garden. Small personal concessions after an intense and demanding professional life that, however, he will now temporarily abandon to help covid-19 patients.

Because Francisco is one of the seven retired doctors in Valencia who have stepped forward and signed up for the Valencia College of Physicians to lend a hand in the greatest health crisis in memory. He and almost two thousand other health workers in the Valencian Community have taken down the coat robe for the last time to return to consult with those infected with the coronavirus.

Their experience and input will be key to combating a pandemic that is especially brewing with health personnel who need relief in their titanic fight to prevent the spread of the virus.

"I did not hesitate for a moment. If society suffers, I also suffer. I could not stay at home. For me, helping at this time is essential" says Francisco in a telephone conversation from the country house where he had decided to spend your professional retirement. The decision was not easy because not all the components of his family accepted his enormous social commitment willingly: "My son was more reticent because my age is an element of risk, but my daughter and my wife, who is also a doctor, did not They have objected to me. They live it with some concern because I put myself on the front line to intubate and help in resuscitation, but they have taken it more or less well. We will take the pertinent measures, but yes, I totally prioritize mutual support, help, more than even my life, "he explains.

Francisco Ibáñez during an intervention in the operating room.EM

"I could never have imagined that, after retirement and after 39 years, I would return to work. When I retired, I came to live in the country, I have my garden ... but I sacrifice everything with total uncertainty because I don't know what I It can happen. My age is a risk factor, but it is something that I decline due to the need for mutual help . The main thing for me is that: society suffers, I suffer, "he insists.

Although he still does not know his final destination, Francisco, who has already blown 65 candles, believes that it will not take more than a few days to call him to join the ranks. "They have not told me where I am going yet. The platform has been set up and I understand that they will call the young people first and then the retirees will go. The same way, by the end of this week they will mobilize me", he calculates. Francisco, yes, it is not surprising that only seven colleagues have signed up to the list of volunteers of the Valencia College of Doctors to date (others have done so through other institutions and unions). However, it is understood that the data responds to the fact that the Health call is quite restrictive (those over 70 cannot register).

The absence of means that is being registered in health centers to prevent possible contagions worries him, but it has not discouraged him one iota to return to activity. He still remembers the cuts that have been made since 2008 in the Valencian Public Health and that forced doctors to adopt imaginative solutions to overcome the lack of material and cure patients.

"It seems that personal protective equipment, masks and others have arrived. There are supply problems because we already know what international prey is like, especially from some companies at these levels. It has cost the government to obtain PPE equipment, but not only to the ours but those of all Europe ", he says before recalling the problems he experienced due to the cuts during his professional stage:" I have worked in transplants and as an anesthetist in the Faith and I would remind you of certain individuals who today are criticizing the government's work They have been cutting back on Health since 2008. We have worked in unworthy conditions, more unworthy than now because this is a state of crisis. As a doctor, I have been working with impressive cuts and managing them. "

His attitude and commitment, like those of the rest of the colleagues who will put on their overalls again in the field hospitals of the Valencian Community, add to the heroic work of a profession that tries its best during the last weeks after having assumed a leading role in the cuts that were chained in the economic crisis.

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  • Valencian Community
  • Valencia
  • Europe
  • Covid 19
  • Coronavirus

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