Social Democratic Party slams understaffed UCA for failing mental health plan as patients rise 51% but staff

The Social Democratic Party (PS) has highlighted severe staffing pressures at Andorra's Addictive Behaviours Unit (UCA), where the patient-to-professional ratio climbed from 73 to 88 over five years as cases rose 50.8%—adding 296 patients—while staff increased by only two, or 25%. This came during a General Council oversight session, with PS deputy group president Pere Baró citing ministry data to claim the unit fails to meet the Mental Health and Addictions Plan (PISMA).

Baró argued that rising demand, including 18.2% high-risk substance use among 15- to 24-year-olds per national surveys (particularly among girls), demands better planning. He criticised limited resources for emergency responses, prevention, and policy work, along with issues raised by groups like Projecte Vida: patient removals after relapses, service hours misaligned with social realities, poor coordination with SAAS, and no dedicated facilities for youth beyond age 14. He noted a 20% workload rise despite seven-day response times, warning it erodes care quality and strains families.

Health Minister Helena Mas dismissed the claims as alarmist, accusing Baró and "some association"—interpreted as Projecte Vida—of eroding user trust via critical reports. She insisted the UCA follows PISMA, developed with local experts and centred on individual recovery paths, though implementation lagged, delaying a new hire to March 2024 from the 2021-2023 schedule. Mas confirmed no short-term staff increases but outlined services: external clinics open to 7pm twice weekly, a day hospital from 9am to 5pm requiring abstinence, emergency support, and community teams.

On relapses, Mas rejected "expulsions," explaining that the day hospital's strict model requires temporary shifts to specialised resources tailored to the patient's condition, protecting group therapy and ensuring continuity. She said hours align with regional standards, trained staff manage youth cases without a dedicated unit—recently supported by a building relocation for easier access—and ruled out 24-hour services.

In response to Andorra Endavant's Carine Montaner, Mas detailed the new mental health centre in La Seu d'Urgell, set for 2027 operation with stays of one month to a year, allowing repatriation of Andorrans currently treated abroad, mostly in Barcelona. A high-complexity commission with SAAS, social affairs, and health oversees external cases via clinical, social, and residential protocols. Other aids include supervised flats on Avinguda d'Enclar.

Following the session, Projecte Vida issued a technical response rejecting Mas's portrayal of their input as trust-undermining. The group called for clear relapse protocols, explicit clinical criteria, and systematic data, aligned with PISMA and international standards. They argued relapses demand intensified therapy, not reductions to medication dispensing and weekly visits, which lack sufficient support. Projecte Vida stressed they target systemic gaps, not professionals, after four years of unanswered concerns via institutional channels. They also questioned service hours, noting core availability from 8:30am to 4pm-4:30pm creates access barriers for workers, precarious women, and students, despite partial evening extensions. Mas has not yet replied to this statement.