Tenerife Social Care: IASS Clarifies Only 4 Spots Available Amid Bed Dispute
Tenerife's Institute of Social and Health Care (IASS) reported only four social and health care spots are available, refuting the PSOE's claim of twenty empty beds amidst hospital overcrowding and clarifying that "empty" does not always mean "free."
The Institute of Social and Health Care (IASS) in Tenerife announced on Thursday that only four social and health care spots are currently open on the island. This statement came after Tamara Raya, general secretary of the PSOE in Tenerife, claimed there were about twenty empty beds in centers run by the island's government.
The IASS clarified that an "empty bed" isn't always a "free bed." Some beds are reserved for people who have been pre-admitted, or for residents who are temporarily in hospital but will return. "This means that even if a bed looks empty, it might not be available for new patients," explained sources from the IASS.
Based on the latest IASS figures, the only available spots are three at Santísima Trinidad Hospital and one at Febles Campos Hospital. This contradicts claims that there are many unused resources that could help ease pressure on hospitals.
During a Social Action meeting held this morning, island councilor Águeda Fumero spoke about efforts to support dependent individuals. She noted that new social and health care facilities, currently being built, will create 552 new places. This project involves an investment of about 100 million euros.
The current island government has also opened 518 new places and services in its first two years. They have also negotiated a new agreement with the Canary Islands Government for dependency care, which is expected to be approved by the end of 2025. This agreement will create 569 more places and involves a total investment of 690 million euros. Of this, the Cabildo (Tenerife's island government) will contribute 202 million euros by 2028, aiming to provide a stable legal and financial system for caring for dependent people in Tenerife.
Fumero also praised the "technical quality" of the IASS Dependency Care Unit team, stating that their goal is to ensure all available places are filled.
Meanwhile, Tamara Raya repeated her concern on Thursday, saying that empty beds in care centers while hospitals are overcrowded shows a serious lack of coordination and planning. She called for urgent action to use these resources. The socialist leader has asked the Minister of Health, Esther Monzón, to appear before the Canary Islands Parliament to explain the state of public healthcare on the island.
Raya warned that people are daily facing overcrowded hospital emergency rooms, longer waiting lists, and slow progress on important projects like the North and South hospitals. She stressed that this situation is made worse by a long-standing shortage of social and health care places for elderly people who need assistance.