The Minister of Social Welfare of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Marciano Acuña (Coalición Canaria), intervened this Friday morning on *Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero* to clarify the doubts generated after the press conference offered by his party, Coalición Canaria, on the future of the **Lanzarote Insular Hospital** as the only public center in the Canary Islands specialized in Geriatrics last Thursday"We have to assess what the future of that place is in the medium term," Acuña confessed in an interview on the morning show *Buenos días, Lanzarote*, who assured that "it must be rehabilitated to continue using it as an Insular Hospital or for another health-related matter"."There has been discussion, but we have reached an understanding, which is what's important and perhaps we don't value it and, among other things, because perhaps we don't know how to explain it," he continuedThroughout his speech, Acuña has argued that the provisional transfer of services is fundamental for security reasons, as the structure suffers from "serious deficiencies", but he has avoided clarifying whether there is a plan for the return of the different Units upon completion of the building's rehabilitation, which lacks both a project and funding.
The 'Lanzarote Model' in one wing of the Molina Orosa?
The island councilor has insisted that "the maximum was always maintained that the Geriatrics Unit", under the "Lanzarote Model of care for the elderly, we are not going to lose it". However, it will cease to be provided at the Insular Hospital"That integral model, with the Acute Unit, Functional Recovery, Day Hospital, all the units go together to a space that meets all the requirements, with all the conditions of sanitary space that is the Polivalent Hospital," he/she/it has pointed outDespite Acuña having acknowledged that he has not yet visited the facilities where the service will be moved, he states that they are "bright" and "ideal." At the same time, he pointed out that "when they are adapted and meet all safety parameters," it will be possible to "make that provisional move." In the press conference last Thursday, it was estimated that the move would begin in the summerWhile 60% of the current assistance will leave the Insular Hospital building, the remaining percentage, which corresponds to the high-requirement socio-sanitary residence, will remain in the same place
Unknowns about the future
"We must let the professionals, who [are] the ones who plan, who order, who have a medium and long-term vision, give us keys, give us ideas and when we have all that on the table, then we say, this is the best option," Acuña addedMeanwhile, he has ruled out that the objective in the short and medium term is to replace the geriatric service of the Insular Hospital with the Lanzarote Health City in Tahíche, only still included in a draft of the new Insular Plan. "Given how long construction takes in Lanzarote, it will be my children or my grandchildren who see that health city," he hesitatedRegarding the building itself, the counselor has pointed out that "it is sacred" because "it is protected" and the land use is contemplated in the socio-health category. The counselor has avoided showing his opinion on whether with the transfer of most geriatric services to Molina Orosa the Insular Hospital could open the door to housing a residence for the elderly in the Insular.Finally, he has pointed out that the Master Plan, which plans healthcare on the island for the next 20 years, "we will put lights on how the island's healthcare development should be".
