Outrage as Hospital in Gran Canaria provides just one fan for entire ward
Patients and staff at Hospital Insular in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria have expressed anger and disbelief after the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) supplied only one electric fan to cool the entire fifth floor during the current heatwave.
The ward, which has 28 patients across 14 rooms, has been struggling with sweltering temperatures. The measure, described by both patients and staff as “ridiculous,” “laughable,” and “pathetic,” means the fan must be shared in shifts between patients.
Staff members say the arrangement is impractical and potentially unsafe, particularly in rooms where patients require respiratory isolation, making it dangerous to reuse the fan between them.
Some patients and visitors have even joked about organising a raffle to decide who gets it next.
The problem stems from the ward’s ventilation system, which has been out of order for more than four years. In that time, no permanent repairs or upgrades have been carried out, highlighting what critics call serious neglect by the responsible administration.
The single fan has been allocated solely for patients, with no provision for the doctors and nurses who work on the ward around the clock. Staff say this is yet another sign of a lack of respect and support, as they battle heavy workloads in difficult conditions.
Despite the circumstances, patients have praised the dedication and compassion of the medical team, describing them as “excellent” and “committed.” However, both staff and patients are calling for urgent reinforcements, better infrastructure, and working conditions that ensure the safety and dignity of everyone on the ward.
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