Vanesa Díaz, a resident of Cabo Blanco leading a social movement formed just 15 days ago to advocate for the establishment of a Palliative Care Unit at the Hospital del Sur, has garnered over 1,300 signatures in support of the cause on the palliativotfsur website. Her efforts received institutional backing yesterday, as she was received by the Common Deputy, the representative of the Ombudsman in the Canary Islands.
Rafael Yanes expressed his endorsement for the citizen-led initiative, emphasizing it as an “indisputable necessity” for the South. He pointed out that the population in the southern region has surged by 357% in the last 45 years, in contrast to 17% in the metropolitan area, not to mention the transient population (tourism), necessitating a reassessment of the healthcare landscape in Tenerife.
“The new Functional Plan being developed by the Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the expansion of the Public Hospital of the South, must not only include the Palliative Care Unit but also a comprehensive range of services to cater to the burgeoning population,” stated Rafael Yanes at the conclusion of the meeting.
Meanwhile, Vanesa Díaz expressed her gratitude for the public support received, remarking that it had deeply moved her. She also acknowledged the backing from palliative care doctors and nurses, as well as the College of Pharmacists of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, who will display their support with informational posters in the 390 pharmacies across the province.
Emphasizing the need for “equitable healthcare regardless of residency,” she stressed that the demand she is championing is of utmost importance. “The residents of the southern region of Tenerife are subjected to bureaucratic mistreatment,” she pointed out, underscoring that “a person in need of palliative care cannot afford to wait; time is of the essence.”
Highlighting the plight of individuals who have to commute over 100 kilometers daily for pain treatment at the Ofra Hospital (formerly Thorax Hospital) in Santa Cruz, she pointed out that having a unit in El Mojón would also benefit patients from the outlying islands, saving them the journey to the metropolitan area.
Vanesa Díaz took up the cause for establishing a Palliative Care Unit at the Hospital del Sur after witnessing firsthand the care received by her father in the final months of his life. Her father, diagnosed with a terminal illness just four months prior, passed away on September 30, 2023. The only relief for his suffering came through palliative care at the Ofra Hospital. His fragile health and the numerous trips from Cabo Blanco to Santa Cruz took a toll, both on him and his family, who were compelled to rush him to the emergency room, shuttling between consultations at the Thorax Hospital as the progression of the disease demanded specific treatments.
