Alberto Reyero, who was responsible for the retirement homes in Madrid at the beginning of the pandemic, has once again denounced the protocols in Madrid that excluded the elderly in residences with disabilities or dependencies from being transferred to hospitals. Reyero harshly criticized the decisions made and the protocols that limited transfers from residences to hospitals, even stating that they were neither ethical nor legal.
Reyero was removed from his duties at the end of March 2020 by President Díaz Ayuso, who entrusted sole command to Health. Since then, Reyero has continued to express his criticisms publicly, arguing that the decisions prioritized propaganda and that it could have been prevented for people to die in an undignified manner in residences.
Deaths in residences during the first months of the pandemic have been an uncomfortable topic for President Isabel Díaz Ayuso. Reyero has pointed out that at that moment, propaganda was prioritized and measures could have been taken to avoid unnecessary deaths.
Despite the criticisms, the regional government of Madrid has defended its management and highlighted that more than 60 court rulings have archived or dismissed the lawsuits filed due to deaths in residences. Reyero has been a key figure in the debate about what happened in the senior residences of Madrid during the pandemic, emphasizing the need to assume political responsibilities.
The documentary '7,291', directed by Juanjo Castro, has triggered a strong controversy by addressing the deaths in residences in the first two months of the pandemic in Madrid. The premiere of the documentary on RTVE caused political tensions, with accusations of manipulation and reproaches between parties.
The documentary features both praise and criticism of the measures taken by the regional government of Madrid regarding senior residences during the pandemic. The protocols for transferring residents to hospitals and the political decisions made remain subjects of debate and controversy.
Despite the criticisms and controversies that have arisen, regional authorities and those responsible for the residences have defended their actions during the health crisis, assuring that they attempted to respond to a situation of maximum healthcare pressure. The release of the documentary '7,291' has reignited old disputes and brought back to the forefront the handling of the pandemic in the residences of Madrid.
