Intensive care ward opened at hospital

The intensive care ward at the new national health hospital of Son Llàtzer came into service yesterday. As a result the Balearic health ministry has closed the intensive care ward at the General Hospital and is referring patients to the new facilities. The new ward at Son Llàtzer, also known as Palma II, has 20 beds although only 10 were opened yesdterday, according to Juli Fuster, the manager of IB-Salut, the health service. On the first day, four of the beds were occupied. Dr Pedro Ibañez, who is in charge of the new ward, said that the five doctors who had worked in intensive care at the General Hospital had also been transferred to the new installations. Other parts of the hospital will be opened gradually between now and March 1. They include 110 hospital beds, three operating theatres, a blood bank and a pharmacy.