Health is working to incorporate physiotherapy gyms in the island's health centers. This was stated by the manager of Lanzarote Health Services, José Luis Aparicio, who also spoke about other projects that "had been stopped" by Covid and that will now be resumed
Regarding the creation of physiotherapy gyms, he pointed out that their incorporation is planned in "all" health centers. However, he specified that "the closest in time" will be done in Mala and in the new health centers that will be built or in those that will be renovated, which are Playa Blanca, Playa Honda, Argana and "Costa Teguise with a bit of luck" and this will serve "to alleviate the pressure" in the current gyms.
And, as he has detailed, so far there are only three public physiotherapy gyms on the island, which are those of the Molina Orosa Hospital and those of the San Bartolomé and Tías health centers. "It is better to decentralize it and have them close to the population", Aparicio pointed out. In addition, "we would save on health transport, which the use of the ambulance is another weak point", added the manager of Lanzarote Health Services.
In addition to the incorporation of more physiotherapists in Primary Care in Lanzarote, it is also planned to "strengthen the teams that already exist" in health centers such as "family doctors, nurses, midwives in some centers and social worker" and they want to add Clinical Psychology.
"Because there are mild pathologies that do not reach Psychiatry because it is occupied with serious pathologies and in the end those people suffer and are in no man's land and with problems for families that are not trained. The idea is that this land that is now no one's, is occupied by someone", said the manager of Health Services of the island, who also pointed out that mental health problems are representing "the silent wave" of Covid.
Likewise, Aparicio has also announced that "the next major works to be done at the Hospital will be a renovation in the Psychiatry Area" and that it will not be the only change in Mental Health. And it is that, they are also "looking for a place" to expand the extrahospital mental health unit.
Changes that came with the pandemic to stay
On the other hand, the manager of Lanzarote Health Services has spoken about some changes that came with the pandemic to Lanzarote's healthcare system and that "will probably stay". "Because, for example, to go only for medications, it is absurd to have to go to the health center. As of today, that is done by phone", he pointed out.
In fact, he believes that telephone consultations, although not predominantly, will also remain. "Some will be done by telephone, for example to check the results of an analysis. If it is only for that, it can be done by telephone and if you have to examine the patient or see the evolution or whatever, then it will have to be in person", Aparicio pointed out. "There is also the issue of paper. Until the pandemic, you went to the doctor and he gave you a printed paper and now there is the electronic prescription", he added.
"There are things that have come to stay and probably in shops and other public places too", concluded the manager of Lanzarote Health Services.
