Representatives of the National Health Federation of Intersindical Canarias have exposed to the Ombudsman in Santa Cruz de Tenerife the need to implement a ‘Health Pact’ in the islands, given the current situation of Canarian hospitals and public health in general.
The Ombudsman, Lola Padrón, and the first deputy and responsible for health, Antonio Alarcó, have met with representatives of Intersindical Canarias, Catalina Darias Delgado and Ruymán Pérez Sánchez, to address this issue in the islands.
The Ombudsman’s Office recalls that it has taken the initiative to meet with unions interested in the emerging problems in emergency services, medical transport, and the lack of staff in the island’s healthcare system.
The union representatives have discussed, among other issues, the situation at the Insular Hospital of Lanzarote and the mental health problems in the child and adolescent unit of the Maternal and Child University Hospital Complex (CHUMI) in Gran Canaria.
They have addressed the new emergency service construction at Our Lady of Candelaria Hospital (HUNSC), and the «arbitrary» dismissals and appointments by the Canarian Health Service, both in department heads and section chiefs, as well as the situation in the Emergency Department of the University Hospital of the Canaries (HUC).
Ruymán Pérez has insisted that the situation in the child and adolescent unit of the Maternal and Child University Hospital Complex (CHUMI) in Gran Canaria, especially regarding mental health, «is a real disaster,» and despite making «multiple complaints, there is no interest from the management.»
Specifically, he described the main problem as «it was opened in a shared floor and has been improvised.» He claims that there is no specific space for professionals to carry out their work; in fact, he says, interviews with family members are conducted in the cafeteria. «There is a response from the Ministry that more or less authorizes them to use the dining area,» he added.
He also explained that there is no specific space in the emergency department, and the boxes do not meet necessary conditions such as «safety glass.» In general terms, he concluded, the situation is «quite precarious, in fact, many professionals are leaving the unit due to the conditions, and the Ministry does not respond or provide solutions.»
«The only excuse they give us is that the hospital has become too small, and they are carrying out extension works that will last at least until 2027,» he added.
For her part, Lola Padrón has emphasized how «concerning» the issues raised are, especially regarding mental health and the situation of the child and adolescent population at the Maternal and Child University Hospital Complex (CHUMI) in Gran Canaria.
«It is extremely alarming, and action must be taken as soon as possible,» she asserted.
FOLLOW-UP ON THE SITUATION
In parallel, the federation representatives have explained how the «repeated low investment» in human resources, materials, and infrastructure, the work overload, assistance, precariousness, and legal insecurity affect the workers.
Cati Darias has expressed her hope that the meeting will serve to gather the necessary information and initiate the necessary actions to address the problems in the Canarian Health Service.
Among the issues discussed, they also delved into the progress of stabilizing staff, the actions to be implemented to retain professionals and prevent them from moving to other regions, negotiations on employment lists, and transfer competitions.
She pointed out that the staff shortages at the HUC are «of a medical nature and result from resignations due to the conditions professionals endure. Therefore, they argue, it is «necessary and urgent» to stabilize positions and end the temporality that affects both professionals in the sector and patients.
The Ombudsman’s Office has expressed its commitment to monitor and mediate with the Ministry of Health of the Canarian Government.
