The introduction of the Palliative Care Unit at the Hospital del Sur a month ago “will ease the overwhelming situation that the facility in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is presently encountering,” as stated by its director, Miguel Ángel Benítez. This service is expected to assist over a thousand patients from the region annually, according to projections from the Ministry of Health, considering that, for instance, out of the 8,827 consultations from users on the Island counted last year at the Our Lady of Candelaria University Hospital (Hunsc), 977 originated from the South. In under a month of operation, it has managed 21 consultations and 14 hospitalised individuals.
Situated on the first floor of the Hospital del Sur, the service features a hospitalisation area with eight beds for patient admission, alongside a consultation area comprising three offices that facilitate the evaluation and monitoring of patients. Currently, it employs palliative care physicians who assist both inpatient users and those visiting the emergency department, supported by approximately twenty professionals including nurses, assistants and caregivers. It aims to provide hospitalisation services to an average of 164 patients yearly, in addition to 1,095 users who will receive care in consultations across the southern part of the island.
It “has been highly requested by families in the southern region and has been made possible due to the efforts of the Ministry of Health team along with the involvement of the Pro Hospital del Sur and We are not second-rate platforms,” stated the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, during his visit to the facilities, accompanied by Health Minister, Esther Monzón; Rosa Dávila, President of the Cabildo of Tenerife, and the managers of Primary Care and the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital; Jesús Delgado and Roberto G. Pescoso, respectively, along with representatives from the social groups that advocated for the establishment of the health facility in El Mojón (Arona).
After expressing gratitude and acknowledging “the numerous advancements” made in this field over “just over a year,” Dávila underscored the significance of the Palliative Unit, asserting that “we must remember that travelling to the hospital in Ofra was not merely a physical challenge for the ill, but also an immense emotional burden for them and their families.” Furthermore, the regional Health Minister, Esther Monzón, praised the platforms for their role as advocates and proponents of this service. Esplugas (Plataforma Pro Hospital Público del Sur) and Vanessa Díaz (We are not second rate) expressed their appreciation for the swift implementation of this initiative and pledged to continue working towards the enhancement and expansion of the centre’s services.
Home Care
The Primary Care Management of Tenerife has been providing home healthcare for patients with oncological conditions requiring palliative intervention for three months. This initiative commenced on October 1 in the Basic Health Zones of Guía de Isora and Santiago del Teide, and has recently expanded to Adeje. In total, professionals have attended to 12 patients needing palliative care at their residences.
Activity at the Southern Hospital
The facility includes a hospitalisation area, emergency services, a pharmacy, a consultation area featuring 18 specialties, a surgical zone with four operating theatres for major outpatient surgeries, a radiology section for conducting diagnostic tests including CT scans and MRIs, a laboratory operational 24 hours a day, an oncology day hospital, and a multipurpose hospital, along with rehabilitation, physiotherapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy for patients requiring hospitalisation.
In terms of the most significant activities at the Hospital del Sur de Tenerife, Health highlights that in 2024 the centre recorded 128,087 consultations, conducted 3,870 surgical procedures, and provided 3,793 treatments within day hospitals. Additionally, the emergency department catered to 59,564 patients and documented 1,071 hospital admissions.
Progress
The establishment of the new Palliative Care Unit complements other newly introduced services at the Hospital del Sur in the past year. During 2024, the operations of the Oncology Day Hospital commenced, alongside the expansion of the Pharmacy service. Furthermore, it introduced Pediatrics and Clinical Nutrition services, upgraded the CT and MRI equipment, and enhanced the laboratory services, including the inauguration of two additional operating rooms.
