The Minister of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, Esther Monzón, announced in the Plenary Session of the Parliament of the Canary Islands the advancements in the deployment of the Home Hospitalization Unit (HADO) at the University Hospital of La Palma. Currently, the service operates in ten municipalities on the island, reaching 87% of the population, with plans for its progressive expansion to the entire island territory.
Monzón highlighted the growing importance of Home Hospitalization as a resource to bring healthcare closer to citizens, particularly relevant in La Palma due to its geography. This model allows patients requiring hospital-level care to be treated at home, ensuring urgent hospital-level medical assistance and advanced life support within 30 minutes.
The minister recalled that the existence of the Normal Emergency Service of Los Llanos de Aridane and a medicalized resource has enabled the incorporation of the Aridane Valley, home to nearly half of the island's population, into the coverage area.
The HADO Unit of the University Hospital of La Palma, established in 2018, currently has 18 beds, expandable to 22, and is integrated by a multidisciplinary team of eleven professionals: three doctors, six nurses, and two physiotherapists. Current coverage includes the municipalities of San Andrés y Sauces, Puntallana, Santa Cruz de La Palma, Breña Baja, Breña Alta, Mazo, and Fuencaliente in the eastern region, and El Paso, Los Llanos de Aridane, and Tazacorte in the western region.
The Canarian Health Service continues to evaluate options to integrate the rest of the territory into the HADO program, aiming to extend this care modality to all citizens of La Palma. "Home Hospitalization is a clear example of how we continue to work to bring public healthcare to every corner of the island. We will continue promoting these types of care resources because equity in access to health is and will remain a priority for this Government," concluded the minister.
Home hospitalization is a care model that provides hospital-level medical and nursing attention outside the hospital setting. It acts as a bridge between primary and hospital care, avoiding conventional admission while providing the same attention a patient would receive in a hospital, significantly improving the quality of life for patients and their families. This resource is particularly beneficial for the elderly and patients with chronic illnesses or complex conditions, as it promotes recovery within the family environment and enhances functional autonomy.
