Government hires more health staff to cope with Summer

THE Balearic Ministry for Health and Consumer Affairs has started the “Summer Health Plan 2006”, with a budget of 10.27 million euros and which includes the hiring of 89 professionals to augment the staff in the Primary Care centres, among other measures. The objective of this initiative is to address the greater demand experienced during the Summer in hospitals, health centres and by the 061 emergency service. With this Plan, the operating capacity of the health centres will be maintained and the needs of both the residents and the tourists will be met. According to the information released yesterday by the Ministry, of the total of 89 professionals, 47 will augment the existing staff to attend to the increase in demand in the Summer and the other 42 will form part of a six month contingency plan to substitute for people who are on holiday. With regard to the hospitals, the plan is to hire some 2'000 professionals to cover the equivalent of 99'257 days of holiday. During the Summer a Traffic helicopter, carrying a health professional to cover any emergency, will fly over the islands with the aim of improving cover for emergencies, especially traffic, bathing or hiking accidents. The 061 service will have its normal resources: an ambulance plane in Palma, two helicopters on Ibiza and Formentera, and another on Minorca. There will also be an increase in the ambulance service, especially in tourist areas such as Porto Cristo, Can Picafort and San Antonio on Ibiza.