Ibiza and Formentera have since Wednesday with the first units of the new fleet of ambulances SAMU 061, after its official entry into service as part of the comprehensive renovation of medical transport in the Balearic Islands.
The entry into operation of ambulances occurs in a controversial context after confirming that 122 of the 246 vehicles awarded could not circulate normally because they exceeded 4.000 kilos of weight, which requires the driving license C1. The vast majority of SAMU 061 personnel only have a B license, so these units -mainly those destined for scheduled transport- were practically unusable from the moment they were delivered.
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Deployment of the controversial new fleet of urgent and scheduled ambulances in Ibiza and Formentera
To solve the problem, the Conselleria was forced to dismantle part of the equipment of several units to reduce their weight, thus allowing them to be driven without the need for a higher license. The Conselleria Manuela García assured that this intervention “will not involve any extra cost”, a statement that has been questioned by workers and political groups of the opposition, who describe the error as “serious” and “avoidable”.
A fleet with new assistance services and technological improvements
In total, Ibiza already has 38 vehicles -19 for urgent transport and 19 for scheduled transport-, while Formentera operates with four ambulances, three for emergencies and one for non-urgent transport. These units are part of the contract of nearly 56 million euros awarded by the Govern on a leasing basis for the next five years.
The launch was supervised by the Regional Minister of Health, Manuela García, together with the general director of the Health Service, Javier Ureña, and the manager of SAMU 061, Eloy Villalba, at the beginning of a deployment that will continue progressively in the rest of the archipelago until the 246 contracted vehicles are completed.
Beyond the controversy, the Conselleria stresses that the new ambulances incorporate care improvements for patients and professionals. These include:
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Air disinfection systems in living quarters.
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Electric stretchers in all scheduled transport vehicles.
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Hydropneumatic suspension for greater stability in critical patients in emergency ambulances.
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Indoor surveillance cameras for continuous patient monitoring.
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Hydraulic platforms to facilitate access for wheelchair users.
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Redesign of the interior space to improve accessibility and operating comfort.
In addition, the contract incorporates an increase in the number of reserve vehicles, an aspect that the Government considers essential to guarantee the availability of resources in the event of possible breakdowns or increases in demand.
The updating of the fleet is relevant for Ibiza and Formentera, where the territorial structure, population mobility and the frequent need for inter-hospital transfers make SAMU 061 an essential service. The agency has 35 assistance bases in the Balearic Islands and five helipads, and is responsible for both daily emergencies and highly complex, pediatric and air transports, in addition to coordinating medical devices in incidents with multiple victims.
