The General Union of Workers (UGT) of Ibiza and Formentera has denounced the “inaction and mismanagement” by the management of the GSAIB (Gestión Sanitaria y Asistencial de las Islas Baleares), the Servei de Salut and the Conselleria de Salud, headed by the Consellera Manuela García. According to the union, the unfulfilled promises and the lack of effective measures continue to seriously affect health transport and health personnel in the Pitiusas.
UGT recalls that last October 15, the councilor and the general director of the Servei de Salut, Javier Ureña, announced the arrival of 246 new health vehicles for the entire community, ensuring that the fleet would be renewed in November, after having already delayed the process since September. However, this week they reported a further postponement: the ambulances will not circulate until December, arguing that many of the vehicles “are still being manufactured in Galicia”.
The union considers that this new delay is evidence of “improvisation, mismanagement and serious non-compliance with commitments“, warning that the situation “puts both professionals and patients at risk“.
The LIMA operating resource, “a pending promise”.
The GSAIB has announced that the LIMA operational resource, a unit already active in Mallorca and Menorca, will soon be launched. UGT has repeatedly demanded its implementation in Ibiza and Formentera, and hopes that “it does not remain another unfulfilled promise“, since its implementation “would improve the operability and strengthen emergency care“.
The secretary of the union in the Pitiusas, Nadal, highlighted as a positive development that, on this occasion, the GSAIB and SAMU 061 are willing to negotiate the requirements for access to LIMA with the social part, which “would ensure equal opportunities for all staff“, although he clarified that they hope that it is not “another empty promise“.
Complaints of workplace harassment and discrimination
UGT has also denounced the labor situation in the GSAIB in the Pitiusas, where ten health emergency technicians have filed complaints of harassment, humiliating treatment and homophobic comments attributed to the head of the service in the islands.
Although the Conselleria de Salud reported the opening of an internal investigation, the union ensures that no precautionary measures have been taken to protect the affected workers. “From the information we have, there will be more complaints in the coming days, due to the hostile and tense atmosphere in the service,” warns UGT.
80% of the workforce is unable to drive the new ambulances
Another problem pointed out by the union is that 80% of the scheduled medical transport personnel cannot drive the new vehicles, as they require a C license due to their weight of 4,000 kilos.
Councilor Garcia has attributed this situation to the previous government, but UGT describes the argument as “ridiculous“, recalling that the current administration “has been responsible for the design and acquisition of the vehicles“.
In addition, the union denounces that the improvised modifications in ambulances -such as the elimination of hydraulic ramps, the reduction of seats or the removal of ergonomic and safety devices-could have serious consequences for the safety of workers and patients, in addition to generating an economic overrun for the public coffers.
“The professionals are not available.”
UGT calls for immediate action and greater dialogue with the social partners, demanding that Councilor Garcia “stop acting unilaterally” and convene a negotiating table with representatives of the sector.
“Professionals were not involved in the design of the vehicles, they are not consulted on the elimination of essential mechanisms or on the necessary training measures. If this continues, the design error will be small compared to the consequences of not having the expertise of the staff,” the union warned.
UGT insists that the lack of planning is generating cost overruns, labor tension and risks in healthcare. “Improvisation and lack of seriousness are being paid for with public money and with the health of workers and patients,” the organization concluded.
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