# Canary Islands healthcare labor crisis > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/canary-islands-healthcare-labor-crisis > Updated: 2026-10-09T15:33:49.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. Healthcare services in the Canary Islands are facing significant labor instability and potential service collapses due to hiring restrictions and staffing shortages. In La Palma, labor unions SEPCA and USAE have warned of a crisis caused by an “asphyxiating” hiring policy and interventionism by the Canary Health Service (SCS). These issues have reportedly led to the suspension of consultations at the La Palma University Hospital and created uncertainty regarding staff renewals and employee vacations. In Tenerife, workers at the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria held protests to oppose hiring cuts, which the Intersindical Canaria union claims are saturating emergency services and lengthening waiting lists. This mobilization has escalated, with the Medical Union (CESM) and the Canary Islands Medical Employees Union (SEMCA) announcing an indefinite medical strike within the SCS beginning October 16, following a lack of progress in negotiations regarding an 18-point improvement package. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-09: Hospital La Candelaria staff protest hiring cuts in Tenerife Healthcare workers at Hospital La Candelaria in Tenerife protested against hiring cuts and poor working conditions, signaling a period of upcoming labor mobilizations and strikes. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hospital-la-candelaria-staff-protest-hiring-cuts-in-tenerife ### 2026-09-24: La Palma healthcare services face potential collapse, unions warn Unions warn that healthcare services in La Palma face imminent collapse due to hiring freezes and staffing shortages affecting essential hospital services. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/la-palma-healthcare-services-face-potential-collapse-unions-warn --- Cite as: Canary Islands healthcare labor crisis. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/canary-islands-healthcare-labor-crisis