UGT has denounced in a press release that, currently, patients who go to the Emergency Room in Playa Blanca are forced to travel more than 35 kilometers for a basic radiological test. This situation causes "delays in diagnosis with the consequent loss of clinical time and subjects the patient to an unnecessary risk transfer, especially in urgent situations".
From the union, they also criticize the "discomfort and added harm suffered by patients referred to reference services." Primarily, to the Valterra Emergency Department and the Molina Orosa Hospital. The situation **worsens in cases requiring medicalized transfers**. These referrals also generate "an overload of care in hospital services that are already in a state of saturation."
The union organization emphasizes that current health planning "is based solely on the registered population. This ratio does not reflect the reality of southern Lanzarote. It does not take into account the floating population, which is so large due to it being a tourist area of particular importance to the island. Nor the high number of service sector workers. Nor the volume of users who must be attended to in the basic health area due to the distance to occupational health insurance providers."
All of this causes constant healthcare pressure. However, the resources allocated "do not align with this reality." UGT Health Lanzarote denounces that "this shortage generates clear territorial inequality. It penalizes patients and professionals."
In addition, "it compromises the efficiency of the public healthcare system." They point out that this situation "forces the mobilization of resources, ambulances, and personnel for transfers that could be avoided if the center had adequate diagnostic means, in addition to damaging the island's image for tourists who use these resources." UGT calls on the population of southern Lanzarote.
The healthcare provided to Playa Blanca "does not correspond to the actual number of people living, working, or temporarily present in the area. It only responds to administrative registration criteria. This underfunding has direct consequences on patient safety and the quality of care."
Therefore, the union demands from the Canary Islands Health Service "an immediate response, with clear commitments and concrete deadlines, for the implementation of a Radiology Service in the Emergency Department of Playa Blanca".
