The PSOE demands the continuity of the Insular Hospital of Lanzarote: "It is a collective responsibility"

The deputy of the Socialist Parliamentary Group for Lanzarote Marcos Hernández denounced this week in the Health Commission of the Parliament of the Canary Islands the “progressive dismantling” of the Lanzarote Insular Hospital. At the same time, he demanded an explanation from the Minister of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, Esther Monzón, about the planned actions and the "established chronology" for transferring patients from this geriatric center to the Doctor José Molina Orosa University Hospital.

Hernández highlighted the "historical trajectory" and the "strategic role" played by the Insular Hospital, recalling that Lanzarote is "the only island in the Canary Islands with a hospital center specifically dedicated to geriatric care." "We are proud to have been pioneers in comprehensive care for the elderly in the Archipelago," he stated during his speech.

75 years of history that could end

The socialist deputy recalled that, after more than 75 years of history, the Insular Hospital has evolved from its "difficult beginnings" to become a reference center thanks to the incorporation of specialized professionals and multidisciplinary teams made up of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, and psychologists, among others.

"It is a committed team that not only addresses patients' health problems but also works from a social perspective, responding to complex realities such as those of people requiring long-term stays," he pointed out.

However, Hernández warned that in recent months, different statements made by officials of the Canary Islands Health Service and members of the government group of the Cabildo de Lanzarote have generated growing concern about the continuity of the center.

In this regard, he explained that both the "explicit and implicit messages" issued from different institutions have fueled uncertainty among patients, families, and professionals.

Hernández particularly criticized the announcement made by the president of the Cabildo de Lanzarote about the allocation of a budget of close to one million euros to reinforce health infrastructures, which, as he explained, will not be allocated to the Insular Hospital but to facilities at the Molina Orosa Hospital.

“This decision only increases doubts about the future of geriatrics as we currently know it in Lanzarote,” he stated, and recalled that behind this debate there are especially vulnerable people, families who need certainty, and workers who deserve to know under what conditions they will continue to carry out essential work for Lanzarote and La Graciosa.

Lack of a "forceful" explanation and active listening

Furthermore, he asked the Minister of Health about the planned actions and the timeline for the announced patient transfer, who acknowledged that there are still approximately six months until said process materializes.

Hernández lamented that the minister avoided making a forceful statement about the continuity of the Insular Hospital. “She has missed a magnificent opportunity to clear up any doubts and guarantee that the Insular Hospital will not close,” he pointed out. Likewise, he criticized that an "explicit commitment" was not made regarding financing that would ensure the maintenance of the healthcare activity and the care model currently provided by the center.

He also insisted on the need for any decision affecting the future of the Insular Hospital to have the active participation of the healthcare and social healthcare professionals who work at the center. “It is essential to listen to those who know firsthand the needs of patients and the functioning of this care model,” he defended.

The socialist deputy recalled that next Saturday a mobilization will take place in defense of the continuity of the Insular Hospital and its current care model. “This commitment must be assumed by both citizens and public officials,” he stated.

For Hernández, the preservation of the Insular Hospital transcends the strictly healthcare sphere and constitutes "a collective responsibility." "We are talking about a care model that is a benchmark throughout the Canary Islands and that cannot be dismantled for non-transparent criteria. We must guarantee its continuity and protect a service that has demonstrated its social and healthcare utility for decades," he concluded.