The Federation of Health Technicians and Professionals (FTPS) has denounced this Monday the lack of ambulances in Arrecife. Specifically, they have pointed out that the capital of Lanzarote has been "more than three days without two vehicles" due to the "lack of replacement units".
The union has denounced that the Government of Canarias and the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) are aware of this situation and has indicated that "their lack of action makes them accomplices in the precarious service that ACCIONA-ICOT is managing." In this regard, it has highlighted that the solution proposed by the SUC "involves diverting services to other private companies or to other units located in remote points of the island, which affects response times."
To which he has added that "there are units that do not exceed 80 kilometers per hour" and this "prevents emergency services from being carried out with the urgency and effectiveness they require".
Due to the high number of emergency services on the island, the Ministry of Health has expanded the service with two new units on the island of Lanzarote. According to the Federation of Technicians, "these awards have not been granted to the company holding the public contract but have been given to a second one, a fact that confirms the deficiencies that the awardee has on the island".
Emergency contracts from December 2024
Likewise, he has pointed out that the Health Emergency Technicians are immersed in the negotiation of a new agreement and that "a situation that is being postponed over time due to the negotiating companies and problems between the unions that represent us". To which he has added that these companies finalized in December 2024 the public contract with Gestión Sanitaria de Canarias, a public company thereof, and annually they are having to make emergency contracts.
In the last Health commission and subsequent statements, the Counselor states that if the collective bargaining agreement negotiation does not conclude in a short period of time, she will be forced to put out the tender for the contract in the Canary Islands. This fact economically affects the workers because they would lose not only the increases of these years, but their salaries would drop even further. Likewise, the social rights achieved so far, would be diminished compared to a national average.
Finally, they have highlighted that “the degradation of services, particularly life support, is not new" and that they have denounced it "on multiple occasions". "People's lives and the safety of professionals are being played with, who now also receive, in addition, the threat of continuing with an obsolete and degrading agreement," they added. Likewise, they have warned that they will continue "fighting for those responsible for Canarian healthcare to acquire a real commitment to public care, improving resources, respecting professionals, and taking care of services".
"It is inadmissible that economic savings continue to prevail over healthcare and labor quality," the FTPS officials in Lanzarote have concluded.
