The Minister of Health, Blas Trujillo, announced this Monday in the Health Committee of the Parliament of the Canary Islands that the islands of Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife will have day hospitals for adults with Severe Mental Disorders with which intensive, continuous, comprehensive and multidisciplinary care for these patients will be guaranteed, avoiding variability in circuits and clinical practices. This is a measure contemplated in the current Mental Health Plan of the Canary Islands, according to the Minister.
He also explained that during 2022 and 2023 a set of improvement actions will be launched in terms of infrastructure and increased human resources in Mental Health. In this sense, and specifically with regard to Severe Mental Disorder, other measures will be taken such as reinforcing the Mental Health service of the HUC, with the opening this semester of the Brief Hospitalization Unit. In addition, a Home Hospitalization team will be created, dependent on the Ntra. Sra. de La Candelaria University Hospital, which will care for patients at home who are likely to need hospital admission due to decompensation of their illness and who, with different support, can recover at home.
Trujillo assured that the objectives of these actions are to improve the integrated network of services for people with severe mental disorders; continue to complete the care network for Child and Adolescent Mental Health and the development of the care program for children in high vulnerability, among others.
Actions in the field of Mental Health
In addition, the Minister of Health announced the creation of a Medium Stay Unit in La Palma, aimed at people who, in a situation of prolonged instability, need a longer period of hospitalization.
On the other hand, he reviewed the measures and devices already put in place in recent months. Thus, he recalled that at the beginning of this year La Palma was provided with a home care team, composed of a nurse specializing in Mental Health and a specific social worker and a psychiatrist who travel to homes.
In Gran Canaria, a new Community Mental Health Unit will start operating in Tamaraceite and a new one is expected to be launched in Maspalomas and another in the northern area of the Island.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Regarding the care of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and the care program for children in high vulnerability, a short-term child and adolescent hospitalization unit will be created in Tenerife.
A Community Assertive Treatment Team will also be launched to monitor the pediatric population that may intervene in their homes or in the supervised flats in which these minors are located.
Finally, Trujillo announced the creation of the specific Child and Adolescent Community Mental Health Unit of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with a full staff, as well as the development of the Early Care Network of the Canary Islands, with the second units of Tenerife and Gran Canaria and the first in Lanzarote, La Gomera and El Hierro, each equipped with a complete team of professionals.
Implementation of psychological care in Primary Care
Finally, the Minister assured that during this year a project will be piloted in the Primary Care Network to address common mental pathology in order to carry out preventive work and avoid chronicity. This pilot will be carried out initially with approximately 18 clinical psychologists.
