07/10/2013 00:00
TW
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by Staff Reporter

PALMA
THE regional Health Minister Vicenç Thomàs announced yesterday that Palma's new hospital planned for the controversial site at Son Espases is to undergo “substantial changes.” The minister, referring to the project which was originally commissioned by the former Partido Popular government in the Balearics (now in Opposition) said that the modifications include putting part of the installations underground along with a section of the parking area.

Another feature will be the creation of elevated terraces which will eventually be covered with trees and shrubs to soften the impact of the view from the emblematic La Real monastery, and plans to annex adjacent land to incorporate it into the overall layout of the hospital grounds.

This most recent announcement follows in the wake of the decision by current Balearic leader Francesc Antich to proceed with the hotly contested project at Son Espases, begun by his predecessor Jaume Matas.

Antich had spoken openly of the difficulties that he had encountered in having to decide whether or not to proceed with the original plans for Son Espases, or whether to relocate the new hospital at alternative sites - one of which was at Son Hugo, close to Palma's Via Cintura and Son Pardo hippodrome.

Antich said that, in the first instance, the Balearic Socialist party, in coalition with the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (of which Antich is regional head) would never have considered building the project at Son Espases. He was thus left having to decide what to do about a major piece of infrastructure that he had “inherited” from the previous government.

Apart from these significant modifications, Thomàs said that during the three years that it will take to complete the Son Espases project -- the official opening is expected in 2010 -- much-needed structural and operational improvements will also be made in Palma's Son Dureta hospital.

Once Son Espases is up and running, Son Dureta's three main buildings will be reconverted to provide more general public health services, with wards for medium and long term hospital stays