Balearics is in bad health

Thomas addressed the Partido Popular Balearic Health Minister Carmen Castro, and accused her of hiding information about the public health service.
Thomas said he wanted to know why Minister Castro was not obeying Parliamentary rules and publishing details every three months of hospital waiting lists. These, said Thomas, should show the number of pre-operative tests, operations and specialist consultations which are pending.

The Socialist MP pointed out that the Health sector of the General Workers Union (UGT) had claimed that in December last year, there were 282 people who had been waiting for an operation at the east Palma hospital of Son Llatzer for more than 6 months but now that list had reached 700. According to Thomas, there was sufficient data to show that the standard of healthcare was “worsening” in the Balearics and that the health of the region's citizens was being put at risk. He said that it was not just a question of operating theatre lists but also of specialist and complementary treatment. “Thousands of people are being affected,” Thomas said.

The Socialist MP said that under the governing Partido Popular (PP), standards were declining in the public health service to what he described as “an intolerable” level. He reminded Parliament that the PP had given orders to restrict the number of operations taking place at Palma's Son Espases hospital this summer, saying there would be further delays as a result.

Minister Castro acknowledged the growing waiting lists, although she didn't say by how much they were increasing, claiming that there was non-essential activity at hospitals which the government could no longer pay for. She took the opportunity, to accuse Thomas of hypocrisy because the excellent service that residents enjoyed in regional hospitals was despite the 600 million euros worth of debt he had accrued whe Health Minister.