The unit's reactivation will take place once work to reduce radon gas concentration in the building is completed and it is confirmed that the facilities meet the necessary safety conditions for professionals and patients. The detection of high concentrations of this gas occurred as part of actions promoted by the Ministry of Health itself regarding occupational health, leading to the installation of a mechanical and controlled air renewal system.
The installation of this system has an estimated execution period of two to three weeks, after which new measurements will be taken to verify its effectiveness. The provisional transfer of mental health care to the Nicolás Peña Hospital in Vigo, carried out on August 3rd as a precautionary measure, was a strictly temporary measure that does not imply the unit's closure or a permanent change in healthcare organization.
During this period, the Vigo health area implemented various measures to minimize inconvenience to patients, including extraordinary afternoon consultations in Ponteareas, coordination with health center nursing staff, provision of ambulances for travel difficulties, and individualized solutions for patients with specific needs.
The Ponteareas Mental Health Unit, a consolidated resource in the region, began operating in April 2022 to provide specialized care to the population of O Condado and A Paradanta, serving approximately 50,000 people. Last year, it attended to 2,864 patients thanks to a multidisciplinary team.
The new Strategic Mental Health Plan 2026-2030 foresees an investment of 177 million euros and the progressive incorporation of 357 new professionals into the Galician public health system, with 68 of them allocated to the Vigo health area. The plan also aims to expand clinical psychology in primary care and establish a new unit for treatment-resistant depression at Nicolás Peña Hospital.
