Andorra Mental Health Services Cut Waiting Lists to 1.5 Months After Facility Move

Meritxell Cosan, director general of the Servei Andorrà d'Atenció Sanitària (SAAS), has reported significant improvements in mental health services following the relocation of outpatient consultations to new facilities in the Ròdol building.

The move has provided more space and separate circuits for users and staff, allowing for a review of appointment schedules. This has led to an increase in first visits and a sharp reduction in waiting lists, Cosan explained during an interview on Diari TV's *Parlem-ne* programme. Waiting times for appointments have dropped from four months to around one and a half months, though she noted some exceptions may still occur.

In the first three months since the facilities opened—marking their anniversary just days ago—approximately 7,500 visits have been conducted. Demand has particularly risen in child and youth services. Hospital management views the service as now appropriately scaled, thanks to three years of substantial infrastructure and financial investment.

The team, led by Joan Soler for the past six months, consists of about 50 staff members, including psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and auxiliary care technicians.

Cosan addressed past internal issues during the tenures of previous leaders Carles Mur and a nursing head who was later dismissed. She clarified that these did not reflect the results of an early-year staff climate survey, published over the summer, despite subsequent press reports suggesting otherwise. Participation reached an acceptable 54%, though Cosan wished for higher involvement. Some departments lacked sufficient responses to draw conclusions, but mental health services met the threshold.

At a recent Christmas gathering, she urged staff to participate fully in future surveys for more reliable data, fulfilling a long-standing demand while expressing surprise at the level of engagement.