The Health Department plans to increase the number of healthcare transport resources in La Palma from 11 to 17, with two ambulances operational 24 hours a day and reinforcements in Valle de Aridane, Tijarafe, Breña Baja, and San Andrés and Sauces.
The Government of the Canary Islands has announced a plan to increase the number of ambulances and healthcare resources on the island of La Palma from 11 to 17, representing an increase of nearly 55% over the current resources. This measure, driven by the Health Department, aims to ensure broader and continuous coverage of healthcare transport across the island, with particular attention to areas that have previously faced greater shortages.
The announcement came after a meeting between the president of the Cabildo of La Palma, Sergio Rodríguez; the Health Minister, Esther Monzón; and the manager of the Health Services of La Palma, José Francisco Ferraz. The meeting analysed both the planning of the new service and the status of the main healthcare infrastructures on the island.
Of the total of 17 ambulances planned, two will provide continuous coverage 24 hours a day, while the rest will operate on schedules adapted to the healthcare needs of each area. The reorganisation will bring the service closer to the population, improving response capacity for emergencies and scheduled transfers.
One of the main new features is the reinforcement of coverage in the Valle de Aridane, with more resources in Los Llanos de Aridane. Additionally, a new unit will be added in Tijarafe to serve the northwest region, and an operational resource will be available 24 hours a day in Breña Baja. The base in San Andrés and Sauces will also be strengthened, with two new resources to improve assistance in the northern part of the island.
During the meeting, Sergio Rodríguez conveyed to the minister the demands raised by ambulance sector workers, in fulfilment of a commitment recently made with this group. The Health Department explained that labour improvements will depend on the negotiation of the collective agreement between employers and worker representatives. Once this process is resolved, the new service specifications can be developed with the corresponding budget allocation.
The meeting also served to review the progress of several strategic healthcare initiatives in La Palma. Among them are the project for the future haemodynamics room at the General Hospital of La Palma, the tender for the new parking facility at the hospital, the expansion of outpatient consultations, the development of the Specialized Care Centre in Los Llanos de Aridane, and the incorporation of the future local health centre in Puerto Naos into the island's healthcare map.
With this increase in ambulances and the reorganisation of resources, the administrations hope to provide a quicker and more effective response to emergencies, as well as improve accessibility to healthcare transport for the population of all municipalities in La Palma. This measure represents a step forward in equating the island's healthcare services with those of the rest of the archipelago, where resource density is higher.
The new healthcare transport contract, which will replace the current one, is in the planning phase, and its tender is expected in the coming months, once the negotiation of the collective agreement is concluded. The citizens of La Palma will thus see improved attention in emergency situations and scheduled transfers, especially in rural areas and those with greater geographical dispersion.
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