The psychiatry service in the Ibiza and Formentera health area has been working with around half its usual staff after seven of its 14 psychiatrists went on leave. Five remain absent, but the health authority says the situation is gradually returning to normal.
What happened
The absences were linked to problems with the management of the service. After concerns were raised by patient groups and associations, the health authority began a mediation process, which led to a reorganisation of the unit and the departure of the previous coordinator.
Cancelled appointments
According to the Ibiza and Formentera health area (ASEF), 144 appointments were cancelled between May and July. The mental health association Aspadif had suggested the real figure could be closer to 500. ASEF points out that a doctors’ strike also took place during that period, making it difficult to separate the causes.
Missed appointments
ASEF also notes that missed appointments are more common in psychiatry than in other specialities: while most hospital services see no-show rates of 10–12%, in psychiatry the figure is 20–22%. Between May and July, 166 appointments were missed by patients.
Waiting times for young people
Aspadif said waiting times in child and adolescent mental health averaged around a year. ASEF gives much lower figures: an average wait of 51 days for a first appointment in June, and 33 days on average so far this year, noting that monthly figures can fluctuate.
Reinforcements
ASEF points to several measures to improve the situation:
- psychology consultations in primary care;
- a new clinical psychologist;
- an occupational therapist joining this month;
- a full-time social worker;
- the reorganisation of the unit after the mediation process.
The authority says these steps should gradually reduce delays and allow the service to catch up on postponed appointments.
Better data
ASEF acknowledges that mental health statistics are still collected using older methods that differ from other services, and says it is working to align them so that figures are reliable and comparable.
The wider problem
Mental health services across the Balearics have struggled to recruit and retain specialists, a problem made worse on the smaller islands by the high cost of housing. For patients and families in Ibiza and Formentera, the coming months will show whether the reinforcements are enough to restore a stable service.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 112, or the 024 suicide prevention line, which is free and available 24 hours a day.
