During the visit, Fernando Clavijo expressed interest in the new design of the room, which allows for better spatial redistribution, optimising and prioritising areas designated for patient care.
The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, and the Health Minister, Esther Monzón, visited the Oncology Day Hospital at the University Hospital of Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín this morning, following recent renovation works.
Clavijo highlighted the importance of this project, stating that it involved an investment of €405,640 and would provide more comfortable, accessible, and efficient care for cancer patients. This enhancement will increase healthcare capacity and optimise patient care pathways. He also noted that “the Canary Island Government continues to work on improving oncology care, incorporating advanced technology, humanising healthcare spaces, and enhancing the quality of life for patients and their families.”
During the tour, accompanied by the hospital’s managing director, Miguel Ángel Ponce, and members of the management team, the President showed interest in the new room design, which facilitates better space redistribution and prioritises areas dedicated to the care of these patients.
16,000 Oncology Treatments
Esther Monzón specified that “the Day Hospital administers approximately 16,000 oncology treatments annually, with an annual activity increase of around three per cent. Therefore, it was necessary to restructure and renovate the space to provide greater comfort for patients and professionals.”
In this context, the Minister added that the Day Hospital now has increased capacity, featuring thirteen consultation rooms—eleven for medical consultations, one for Pharmacy, and two for Nursing. Additionally, there is an assisted area equipped with four treatment beds and twenty-one treatment chairs, a central island for treatment preparation, two waiting rooms, and a treatment room, among other healthcare spaces.
The renovation of the Oncology Day Hospital has posed a significant organisational challenge for the hospital, serving as a true example of teamwork. The facility highlights the personal and professional commitment of the Day Hospital nursing team, along with other services such as porters, engineering, cleaning, maintenance, communications, supplies, IT, security, pharmacy, administration, and admissions.
Advantages of the Day Hospital
The Oncology Day Hospital is a specialised care area designed for cancer patients to receive treatments and care on an outpatient basis. Its main advantage is that patients receive high-complexity medical and nursing care without the need for hospital admission, allowing them to return home the same day and maintain their routine and family environment as much as possible.
The activities conducted in this unit are varied and fully personalised according to each patient’s needs, aimed at treating the disease and improving treatment responses while minimising side effects, including surveillance, early detection, and addressing associated complications.
Services provided at the Oncology Day Hospital include:
Administration of treatments, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, other supportive treatments, and clinical trials.
Health education: The medical and nursing team provides patients and their families with the best therapeutic options and teaches them how to manage side effects at home, what warning signs to watch for, and how to care for intravenous devices to enhance their quality of life throughout the process.
The day hospital model offers significant physical and emotional benefits compared to traditional hospital admission, as receiving treatment on an outpatient basis reduces the psychological impact associated with prolonged hospital stays, decreases the risk of secondary infections, and optimises treatment times.
