The situation regarding blood reserves in the Canary Islands is critical. In fact, everything happening around the Blood Bank of Canarias has been tumultuous, but the current state of the stock has led workers to urgently seek solutions given the red numbers in the reserves.
Sources from the workers report that on the morning of this Friday, the stock of blood groups 0+, 0-, B+ and B- reached its most critical level. This means there are so few supplies of these blood types that only emergencies are being attended to. This is reflected in the red colour of the chart issued to workers daily. In that chart, the blood groups A+ and A- were marked in orange, according to reports. When a blood group is in this state, “energetic” calls are made to the public for donations.
It’s important to note that when a blood group enters a yellow level, it is estimated there are supplies for five days. In other words, the current blood stocks are sufficient for less than five days.
Blood in EDTA tubes in a laboratory. /CANVA
“This stock is not an isolated incident; it has been systematic for virtually all of 2025,” stated Cobas union representative Laura Rodríguez this week at a press conference where she presented similar data to what was shared this Friday. There was only one period in 2025 when there was a notable increase in donations, when a call was made to ensure sufficient reserves for a lung transplant. “That period has passed, and we are again facing these figures in which we are unable to meet hospital needs,” the representative warned.
Regarding management
In light of this situation, the workers at the Blood Bank find it “inexplicable” that the director of Haemodonation, Iván Santiago Falcón, claimed there was “no critical stock” but that “we must reinforce it.” Falcón was appointed following the dismissal of the president of the Canary Institute of Haemodonation and Haemotherapy (ICHH), Gemma Torres Aguiar, who was involved in controversy for stating she graduated in law without proper accreditation. Like her, Falcón is part of the Unidos por Gran Canaria party.
Behind the situation, the workers believe there is poor organisation and a “lack of management and leadership” from those in charge of what was previously the Canary Institute of Haemodonation and Haemotherapy, now the General Directorate of Haemodonation and Haemotherapy. Currently, the general direction does not have an organigram or a list of job positions, the workers criticise. They also report that staff who were supposed to be stabilised in 2024 have not been.
They have also denounced that hiring lists are not being used, despite the need for “experienced staff,” which can currently only cover absences.
Workers without union representation
Adding to this situation is the really concerning fact that Health has dissolved the works councils of the ICHH in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas. This dissolution occurred two days after the workers called for a demonstration at the parliament and without the workers having held union elections to choose their legal representatives.
Therefore, in light of the issues with stock reserves and the deficiencies in labour matters, they demand “better management for the service,” as this depends on whether hospitals have sufficient reserves to meet the health needs of the population.
