The Socialist Group in the Cabildo of Lanzarote presented a motion in the plenary session of the corporation to urge the Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands to guarantee the continuity of the Insular Hospital as a center specialized in geriatrics. The motion, which defended the preservation of the only geriatric hospital in the Canary Islands, was rejected with the votes against from Coalición Canaria and Partido Popular.
Aguiar expressed his indignation: "The Insular Hospital is not only a symbol of healthcare in Lanzarote, but also a benchmark in geriatrics at a regional and national level. The refusal of CC and PP to support its continuity represents a betrayal of our island and its elderly, who have found a place of dignified and specialized care in this hospital for 75 years."
The motion emphasized the need to carry out renovation and maintenance work in the hospital, but argued that its current function should be maintained and not be absorbed as a simple unit of the Doctor José Molina Orosa University Hospital. Aguiar warned that this integration would compromise the specialization of the center, its teaching capacity, and the hospitalization and palliative care services, recognized for their quality of care.
"We are talking about a hospital that has trained generations of professionals and has accompanied the families of Lanzarote in the most delicate moments of the lives of their elders. The lack of support from CC and PP shows an alarming disregard for the legacy and need of this center. We cannot allow political interests or neglect to jeopardize such a valuable resource for the island and for all of the Canary Islands," added Aguiar.
The Insular Hospital is part of the 53 geriatric teaching units in Spain and is the only center in the Canary Islands that trains residents in this discipline, which reinforces its key role in specialized health training. Its location, surrounded by gardens and with views of the sea, has provided a dignified quality of life for patients and families for decades.
The socialist spokesperson recalled that this year the Insular Hospital celebrates its 75th anniversary, a date that should be a cause for celebration and not concern. "It is time to recognize the work of this hospital and its staff, not to put its existence at risk. From the PSOE we deeply regret the rejection of this motion and demand that the Government of the Canary Islands and the political forces that have voted against it reconsider their position and commit to its renovation and continuity."