The Health Federation of Comisiones Obreras (CC OO) in Lanzarote has revealed some of the problems in the sector. One of its main complaints is based on the breach of the agreement signed between the union, Satse and human resources of the Canarian Health Service so that the working hours of health professionals would be 35 hours per week.
The agreement, signed in January and which should have come into force on the 1st of this month, is not being applied, according to the head of this Federation, José Carballo, who assured that the situation is returning to the previous one "when we do not want them to pay us overtime but the 35 hours per week".
The trade union organization denounces other problems in the health area. One of them is the privatization of some services such as the thermal power plant. The maintenance of these facilities has been passed to Ferrovial "to which 200,000 euros per year is paid" when until recently this was done from the Hospital. The fact has been reported to the Personnel Board pending a response.
They deny the lack of professionals
The problems of healthcare also involve the lack of professionals when there are people willing to work in Lanzarote. Comisiones Obreras denounced three cases. Firstly, the case of the Primary Care pharmacist, which is required by law but despite having an offer from a worker, they are not hired "despite the fact that in Fuerteventura they do have one when the population ratio is lower than here".
Something similar happens with a specialist in the digestive system "who has presented her curriculum and obtained her MIR in one of the best hospitals in Catalonia", said José Carballo, about whom the Health administration responds that she is not qualified, so "the position is not filled and meanwhile we continue with the waiting lists", said José Carballo.
In the same way, there could be a trauma surgeon working through a service contract "which means that he registers as self-employed, he has done so, he is paying for it and he still does not know if they are going to hire him", explained the island delegate of the Health Federation of CC OO.
Finally, the union denounced that after receiving a letter from the island director of Health requesting that they appoint a representative to the Hospital Participation Commission, this body has not been created.
Faced with these situations, Comisiones Obreras has asked the professionals in the sector to meet in the basic health areas, analyze the problems and give proposals to try to fix these difficulties.
