The Federation of Technicians and Professionals of Health (FTPS) union, representing professionals in health transport and emergencies, has publicly denounced through a press release "the incidents that are systematically occurring due to breakdowns in different units, especially basic life support, since 2024." Thus, it has indicated that "this situation causes the service to be empty or without a unit due to the lack of replacement vehicles."
As denounced in the document, "the mechanical problems are a constant in the units; thus, during 2024, the non-urgent transfer units were also affected, increasing the number of services of each unit, which harmed patient care due to the high workflow."
Likewise, they have pointed out several examples of the "poor condition of the vehicles." Among them, in the first semester of 2024, they had to "replace a basic life support unit with medicalized material with a non-urgent transfer unit on one occasion, for at least 20 hours, by order of the Canary Emergency Service (SUC) as the awarded company, UTE Lanzafuer Acciona Icot, did not have a replacement unit." Another example is from November 2024, when "the advanced life support unit of Arrecife broke down and was replaced by the advanced life support unit of Playa Blanca, leaving the south of the island without a unit for 12 hours." Thus, on January 6, "the advanced life support unit of Arrecife had to do without the health technician because, by order of the company and with notice to the SUC, he had to move to another unit; or on January 11, 12 and 13, Arrecife was left without a basic life support unit again until 12 noon due to the lack of a spare car."
Despite the fact that article 64 of the Workers' Statute states that the "Works Council shall have the right to be informed and consulted on the situation and structure of employment in the company or workplace, as well as to be informed quarterly on its probable evolution, including consultation when changes are foreseen in this regard," the awarded company has not informed the Committee of these incidents.
Likewise, in section 39 of the regulations or contract with GSC it is stated that "due to breakdown, lack of equipment or similar situation, the contractor must supply the unit with one of identical characteristics together with its equipment in a maximum time of one hour without this justifying a defect in the provision of the service to the users of the SCS," however, they have pointed out that "the company is not complying with this regulation."
The heads of FTPS have pointed out that "this conduct of negligence puts citizens at risk, so from FTPS we have repeatedly demanded that the awarded company comply with the service it must offer and, likewise, we urge the Administration to act against this breach. We hope that this situation does not last longer in time, as putting the health and safety of professionals and users at risk should not be an option."
