Fuerteventura PSOE warns of 'real chaos' in health care after another management shake‑up

Manuel Hernández Cerezo, vice‑secretary‑general of the PSOE in Fuerteventura and regional deputy for the island, has expressed his alarm over the “authentic chaos” affecting the island’s health system following the latest reshuffle at the head of its health services during the current legislative term.

The chaos in health management harms patients and professionals

In a press release, Hernández Cerezo warned that this instability in health leadership is a clear sign of the current Canary Islands Government’s lack of direction, stating:

“It is neither serious nor responsible that an island like Fuerteventura has already had three managers in such a short period, which reveals an improvised administration constantly subjected to political interference.”

The socialist deputy, who will demand explanations for the reasons behind the dismissal, emphasized that these decisions not only disrupt internal organization and the daily work of health professionals but also directly impact the quality of care:

“The poor management that harms both professionals and patients, which we have endured for three years, is not the result of a single person’s actions but of a lack of political commitment to improve public health on the island, a deterioration we have been denouncing from the Socialist Party for months.”

He praised the dedication of health‑care staff, who “perform their duties under clearly improvable conditions, with instability, limited resources and growing service pressure,” while lamenting that “instead of offering solutions, the Government continues to generate more uncertainty.”

The lack of direction adds to longer waiting lists and a shortage of specialists

Hernández Cerezo highlighted that the latest managerial change comes amid a particularly worrying context, marked by worsening waiting lists on the island. According to data released by the Canary Islands Health Department, the surgical waiting list at the General Hospital of Fuerteventura has risen 24.4 % in one year, increasing from 868 to 1,080 patients, while the average waiting time has grown from 44 to over 53 days.

Delays are especially severe for diagnostic tests: echocardiograms now exceed 300 days, and endoscopies approach nine months of waiting. Specialties such as Traumatology, Ophthalmology, and General Surgery account for a large share of these backlogs.

“Majoreros are seeing how their health system fails to meet their needs, with unacceptable delays, a lack of specialists, and management that does not respond to the reality citizens live in.”

The situation is compounded by shortages in numerous specialties, including Digestive Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Rheumatology, a problem recently highlighted by the General Union of Workers (UGT) of Fuerteventura.

Three managers in three years reflect the Government’s lack of direction

The socialist leader stressed that the recent replacement marks the third change in the island’s health‑service leadership within just three years of the current legislature, which he sees as evidence of “a worrying lack of planning and stability in a sector as sensitive as health.”

“Changing the person responsible for health management on the island three times is not a solution; it is a clear symptom that health management in Fuerteventura is abysmal.”

Consequently, Hernández Cerezo demanded that the Canary Islands Government end the instability in Fuerteventura’s health administration, reinforce human and material resources, and adopt urgent measures that guarantee dignified, quality care for the island’s residents.

“Fuerteventura cannot continue to be the great forgotten one in health matters. It is time to act with responsibility, planning, and respect for both professionals and patients.”