The regional government provides psychological assistance for the La Restinga initiative and announces an enhancement in Nursing services.
VALVERDE (EL HIERRO), 2 (EUROPA PRESS)
The Minister of Health for the Canary Islands Government, Esther Monzón, has reiterated the need for the State to contribute more actively to support migrants during a statement on Wednesday.
In this regard, she emphasised the importance of allocating the appropriate budgetary resources to the islands to effectively manage the current crisis and sustain the essential material and human resources that ensure the high quality of care for individuals arriving by sea.
Monzón visited the La Restinga port facility alongside the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Sovereignty of the Canary Islands Government, Narvay Quintero, the Deputy Minister and Director of the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS), Carlos Díaz, the Health Area Director of El Hierro, Pilar Mora, and the manager of the island’s Health Services, Jessica Acosta.
This special task force comprises six professionals: three medical doctors and four nurses responsible for immediate care upon the arrival of boats and ongoing monitoring at the Temporary Care Centre for Foreigners (CATE). Nursing assistants are also deployed according to specific needs at designated times.
Moreover, a sanitised ambulance has been set up by the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) to ensure urgent medical transport when necessary.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health has formed an agreement with the Official College of Psychology of Santa Cruz de Tenerife to provide psychological support and assistance to health and emergency service professionals in El Hierro.
Management has also introduced nursing enhancements at the hospital level to address particular surges in demand for care.
These professionals collectively form a healthcare reinforcement initiated by the SCS to address the migration challenges currently faced by El Hierro, as detailed in a press release from the Ministry.
During their visit to the dock, Esther Monzón, Narvay Quintero, and Carlos Díaz expressed their gratitude to SCS health personnel for their professionalism, commitment, and dedication in addressing the healthcare demands associated with the migration crisis in El Hierro.
Carlos Díaz highlighted the dedication of the SCS professionals, who answered the call to volunteer and support the establishment of the new specific team of Primary Care professionals deployed to El Hierro, affirming that this initiative has produced positive outcomes in maintaining care both at the dock and within the island’s health centres.
EXPANSION OF HOSPITAL SERVICES
During the event, the Minister of Health also announced an expansion of services at the Nuestra Señora de los Reyes Hospital, with the introduction of three new specialities: Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, and Rheumatology. Specialists from the reference centre, the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital, will periodically visit the Herreño hospital, thus alleviating the need to transfer patients to Tenerife for such treatments.
The SCS director underscored the considerable efforts made not only to serve the migrant community but also to enhance the performance of waiting lists.
In this regard, he indicated that during the first half of 2024, the Nuestra Señora de los Reyes Hospital achieved a 7.5 per cent increase in surgical activity, completing 389 operations between January and June of this year.
Furthermore, 13,717 consultations were recorded in the initial six months of 2024, comprising 3,832 first consultations and 9,622 follow-up consultations.
Carlos Díaz noted that as of the latest evaluation of waiting lists on June 30, the Management of El Hierro registered the shortest average wait time in its history for surgical interventions, which now stands at 10.87 days, a significant reduction from 76.11 days in June 2023. This reflects a decrease of over two months, with the current surgical waiting list now being just 10 days.
Additionally, the number of patients awaiting surgical procedures has plummeted by 80.3 per cent, from 76 to just 15 individuals on the waiting list year-on-year.
