The Southern Tenerife Public Hospital platform stressed the importance of quickly putting the expansion project for the hospital center out to tender to ensure it is awarded urgently. They emphasized the need for completion before the approval of the 2025 budgets, as promises not included in the budget may not materialize.
The platform highlighted the essential nature of implementing the Chemotherapy Unit as a crucial step due to its social significance. The unit is expected to be operational by June, as confirmed in a recent meeting at the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria University Hospital by the manager, Roberto Gómez, on December 28. This service is long-awaited by the population of the south of the Island and plays a key role in the treatment of oncological diseases, as noted by the platform.
Patient Transfers
Currently, numerous cancer patients require transportation to La Candelaria Hospital daily, either by family or friends or by making their way there independently. Some patients benefit from the free collective transport system funded by local councils for many years.
The citizen group also stressed the necessity for a palliative care unit at the southern hospital center and urged the exploration of immediate alternatives to enhance patient care. This aligns with the ongoing demands of the citizen platform, We are not second class, led by Vanesa Díaz, a resident of Cabo Blanco, who has personally conveyed these concerns to the Minister of Health.
Upcoming Meeting
Representatives of the Pro Hospital Público platform for the South of Tenerife are looking forward to meeting with the President of the Government, Fernando Clavijo; the Minister of Health, Soledad Monzón; and the president of the Tenerife Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, in the near future.
This meeting was proposed by Fernando Clavijo at the beginning of the legislature during the first meeting held on September 12, 2023, at the Government’s headquarters. Its purpose is to assess progress in resolving capacity issues and the future expansion of the Hospital del Sur, as explained by the platform.
The citizen group expressed optimism about the legislative progress but emphasized the need to monitor each step closely to ensure all commitments are met without further delays, given the history of delays in this longstanding demand.
