Fuerteventura hospital creates child-friendly space for young patients
The Early Care Unit (UAT) in Fuerteventura has given its facilities a colourful makeover to create a more welcoming and friendly environment for young children and their families. The initiative, led by the island’s Health Services Management under the Canary Islands Health Department, has decorated the corridors of the unit in the General Hospital of Fuerteventura with bright, child-friendly designs.
The mural at the entrance to the unit was created by local artist Dailos Felipe Paniagua and features imaginative characters designed to make waiting times less daunting for children receiving specialist care.
The UAT has been operating since June 2021 and provides support to children from birth to six years old who have developmental disorders, disabilities, or are at risk of them. In 2024, the unit attended to 101 children, while between January and July of this year, 61 young patients have already received treatment.
The team at the unit includes a social worker, educational advisor, clinical psychologist, administrative support, two speech therapists, a physiotherapist, and an occupational therapist. Together they provide personalised, multidisciplinary care plans not only for the child but also for their families, schools, and wider environment when required.
To make the service more accessible, the team also runs a mobile unit, travelling twice a week to health centres in Gran Tarajal and Morro Jable. This allows families to access specialist support closer to home without the need for long journeys.
Fuerteventura was the first island in the Canaries to introduce direct referrals to its Early Care Unit from primary care doctors, bypassing the need for initial hospital referrals. This innovation has sped up the process, reducing waiting times in other departments such as rehabilitation, mental health, paediatrics, and speech therapy.
The overall aim is to detect and respond to developmental issues at the earliest stage, supporting children physically, psychologically, and socially. By intervening in the early years, specialists can help children achieve their maximum potential for personal development and social integration, while also easing the pressures on families.
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