SATSE calls for urgent action after racist assault on a nurse

The union says the incident, which occurred at the Hospital Insular de Gran Canaria, is the first case identified with a racist component against a nursing professional in the Canary Islands. The organization notes that assaults on nursing and physiotherapy staff of the Canary Health Service rose from 192 in 2024 to 248 in 2025, a 29.17 % increase.

First Racist Incident Recorded

The Nursing Union SATSE Canarias denounced the aggression suffered by a nurse at the Hospital Insular de Gran Canaria, stating that this is the first case with a racist component recorded against a health‑care professional in the archipelago. According to the union, the attack included racist references directed at the nurse because of his skin colour, which it describes as “of extreme gravity.”

“We cannot normalise that nursing professionals work under threats, assaults and, now also, racist attacks,” said Juan Trenzado, provincial secretary of SATSE in Las Palmas.

Context of Growing Violence

The union did not disclose the exact circumstances of the assault or the identity of the aggressor. However, coverage by Televisión Canaria reported that the incident unfolded during a dispute between two patients.

SATSE places this episode within a broader trend of rising conflict in Canary health facilities. Their data show that aggressions against nursing and physiotherapy personnel of the Servicio Canario de Salud increased from 192 in 2024 to 248 in 2025, representing a 29.17 % jump.

Union’s Demands and Proposed Measures

In response, SATSE is considering organising protests at the entrances of hospitals and health centres and is reiterating its call for urgent security measures from the health service. The union proposes the following actions:

• Reinforce security staff, especially in high‑exposure areas such as emergency departments and primary‑care centres.
• Upgrade alert systems and review immediate‑response protocols.
• Launch awareness campaigns against violence and racism.
• Provide additional training for health‑care workers.
• Impose sanctions on aggressors and ensure legal support for victims.

Lack of Institutional Support

SATSE also highlighted that the assaulted nurse “did not feel supported or accompanied at any time by the health administration.”

Call for a Zero‑Tolerance Policy

The union concludes by reaffirming its zero‑tolerance policy toward any form of aggression—whether physical, verbal or discriminatory—and demands a decisive response from public authorities and the judicial system.