Concerns Rise Over Future of Lanzarote’s Insular Hospital
The Lanzarote chapter of Spain’s Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) has expressed alarm over comments made by the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, regarding a “different future” for the Insular Hospital. These remarks have heightened fears among residents that plans to reform the hospital could threaten its status as a geriatrics facility.
María Dolores Corujo, the PSOE’s general secretary and a member of Congress, stated, “No one opposes reforming the Insular Hospital. Lanzarote simply demands that it remains the Insular Hospital, not be transformed into something else.”
Corujo called on Clavijo to clarify the implications of his statements, specifically regarding which services will be preserved and how patient care, especially for the elderly, will be managed.
She also criticized Oswaldo Betancort, head of the local government, for remaining silent on such important issues. “While over 7,000 people protested for the hospital’s continuity, the Cabildo president has failed to demand clear guarantees about its future,” she said.
On June 20, Lanzarote witnessed a “historic mobilization” led by the Marea Blanca platform, advocating for the hospital, which has served the community for over 75 years.
Corujo emphasized that residents are not seeking a new direction for the Insular Hospital but rather its ongoing existence and modernisation, insisting that the debate is not about reforming or closing it down.
She warned against historical patterns, pointing to previous instances, such as the closure of the local funeral home, which was also justified as an improvement. “We know too well how Coalition Canaria operates: first, they propose reforms, then changes, and soon enough, the service is gone. We won’t allow that with the Insular Hospital,” she added.
The PSOE is calling for solid commitments regarding funding, timelines, and assurances that geriatrics services will remain intact. Corujo underscored the hospital’s significance, describing it as a cherished social and emotional asset for Lanzarote, built through generations.
She urged Betancort to publicly demand the hospital’s continuation and uphold its geriatrics service, stating, “Betancort must choose: support Lanzarote or align with Clavijo. Silence in this matter equates to complicity.”
