MADRID, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Charles III Hospital in Madrid where the missionaries Miguel Pajares and Manuel Garcia Viejo and nursing auxiliary, Teresa Romero were treated for Ebola was not adequate for the care of those suffering from the virus, according to a report on Tuesday in the Spanish 'El Pais' newspaper.
The newspaper cites a study carried out into the Carlos III Hospital by work inspectors, which discovered "insufficient personnel training, changing protocols, inadequate facilities for putting on and taking off protective suits, and other shortcomings" at the hospital.
Both Pajares and Garcia Viejo died of the virus, while Romero, who became the first person to be infected by Ebola outside of Africa, contracted the virus at some stage while helping treat Garcia Viejo.
She recovered from the illness and was released from hospital on November 5.
El Pais says the report concludes that the Gomez Ulla military hospital in Madrid was better equipped to deal with Ebola and adds that several security protocols now in place were only adopted after Romero had been infected, implying that poor protocols, rather than an individual error from Romero were to blame for her infection.
The report explains that although the Carlos III purchased self-ventilating hazmat suits, which are recommended for the treatment of Ebola patients, there were not used due to "difficulties maneuvering inside the air lock and the need for training."
Training consisted of a 15-20 minute talk and a 25 minute practical session, while there were no drills to train those who had to work in the room with patients and there were also a lack of trained supervisors to watch over those removing protective clothing to ensure no accidental contagion took place.
In short there was "a dispersal in terms of definition, guidelines and measures adopted in the global context of the hospital complex regarding the risk (of Ebola)."
Both former Health Minister Ana Mato and the Director of the Health Service in the Community of Madrid, Javier Rodriguez, have since left their posts, although neither for reasons related to the possible miss-management of the Ebola crisis.
Mato resigned over her implication in a corruption scandal, while Rodriguez was sacked after a series of unfortunate public comments over Romero.
