By David Eade – Costa del Sol News
In April 2008 the Costa del Sol News gave wide coverage to the case of 24-year-old Luis Alberto Ramírez who died in Ronda’s hospital from peritonitis.
The Gaucín youth had been correctly diagnosed at Algatocín health centre on March 31 and sent to the hospital with the expectation that he would be operated on. However he was twice discharged from the hospital with doctor’s insisting he had a virus or food poisoning. He was eventually admitted to the hospital after suffering a heart attack as his family attempted to transport him to hospital in traumatic circumstances after lengthy delays as no ambulance was available.
Since then his family led by his sister, María José Ramírez, and their lawyer Luis Ferrary, have campaigned to have those they deem responsible brought to trail for medical negligence. However the judge provisionally filed the case in March 2009 without any of those involved being questioned.
Although both María José and her lawyer insist there is clear evidence of negligence involving the hospital and Gaucín health centre they cannot take the case forward as it is in judicial limbo. Until the judge makes a judgement it cannot pass to the provincial court on appeal because there is nothing to appeal against.
The Alberto Ramirez family have appealed to the Andalucía Ombudsman, José Chamizo, asking him to intervene. He says he has now power to say whether there was or was not any negligence in the medical staff’s actions.
However Chamizo has been highly critical of two aspects of the case. First over the report that stated only one ambulance served the Valle del Genal area and this was not available for Luis Alberto because it was attending an emergency in Ronda. Secondly the ambulance did not return to serve the area it was allocated to for over 90 minutes leaving the widespread villages without any ambulance cover.
Now the pressure is on for the case to be re-opened so what happened to Luis Alberto can be judicially examined. There have also been widespread demonstrations in his home village of Gaucín for an independent enquiry. In addition all the town halls have been united in a campaign for ambulance over in the Serranía de Ronda.
PEOPLE PLAZA
The plaza Carmen Abela in Ronda is to be converted into a pedestrian zone. The square with the calles Lorenzo Borrego and Sevilla is in the heart of the open commercial centre based on the called Espinel known as La Bola. Over 800,000 euros has been assigned from an ICO tourism loan for the work with 23 companies keenly bidding for the contract.
SUMMER HOSTEL
The first youth hostel to serve Ronda and the Serranía is to open this summer. It will have the capacity to cater for 74 people who will be housed in 15 rooms. It’s located on the El Fuerte industrial estate between the calles Guadalcobacin and Fernando de los Rios. The building is self-sufficient in power terms and is totally adapted for handicapped people.
CASH CRISIS
Asprodisis in Ronda caters for handicapped people and is in crisis as the town hall has not paid 142,000 euros in grants. It cares for 243 people but will have to lay off 90 in its employment schemes and cut services. Over 84,000 euros is the 2011 grant, 22,000 comes from the Andalucía health service with the balance owed by Ronda from 2010.
SAD FAIRWELL
The parents of 13-year-old María Esther who was murdered in Arriate on January 20 allegedly at the hands of a 17-year-old youth from the village have now left for Paterna de la Rivera. Over the weekend they collected up all their possessions, bade a sad farewell to their neighbours and friends and returned to the home village to start a new life.
PSOE CHOICE
It’s already known PSOE would be led in to the local elections in the key municipality of Gaucín by Teodoro de Molina who for a short period after the last poll was mayor with the support of the PP. De Molina will head a list with Maribel Casas as number two plus another eight candidates which includes foreign resident Jorrian Van Der Chaaf.
WALKER FEST
Keen mountain walkers should head for Genalguacil over the weekend of March 26-27. Enrolment is free and can be carried out by email by contacting encuentrosenderista@genalguacil.es. The programme will start with a gathering of the walkers in the plaza on the Saturday, the inauguration of a new walk and an expert talk on walks in the Valle del Genal and Serranía de Ronda.
HORSE SCHOOL
In July Ronda will have a 320,000 euro equestrian school housed at the Parada de Sementales on the road to Llano de la Cruz. The objective is to open to the public a sport that is traditionally associated with the elite. There will be a covered area for riding practice, 19 horse boxes plus an equine therapy unit for use by handicapped people.
ASTON SUNDAY
On Sunday the latest Aston Martin model was presented in Ronda. The internationally renowned British car was to be seen in the plaza Duquesa de Parcent in the centre of the old town. The new Aston Martin has also been a common sight on the roads around Ronda in recent days as it is filmed and photographed for the world wide publicity campaign.
