New Ambulances in Mallorca: Expensive Vehicles, No Drivers Yet

Since September, modern ambulances have sat in workshops because rescue teams do not hold the appropriate driving license class. Until a solution is found, the old vehicles remain in service.

New vehicles, old problem: Why ambulances stay unused

A few weeks ago I still saw them in the headquarters yards, all freshly painted, with gleaming headlights and the sense that something was finally moving forward. Today the same vehicles sit in a hall on Calle Son Oms, strapped to the diagnostic devices, but they do not drive. Why? Because most paramedics do not hold the correct driving license class.

The unexpected snag: weight over 3.5 tons

The new vehicles weigh more than 3.5 tons – and that makes the difference. In numbers: around eight out of ten rescue technicians on the island only have the standard car license. The consequence is simple and annoying: The new machines may not be driven by them, even though exactly these teams are needed on the road every day.

Since their arrival in September the vehicles mostly sit in workshops or on parking lots. People from shifts say that the HR chief who accompanied the procurement has already stepped down. Dramatic? A bit. For those waiting for a call at night, it is especially frustrating.

What solutions are being discussed?

The authorities are now examining several approaches: reduce weight, modify equipment, or train more drivers with the relevant license class through an internal retraining program. But there are also voices from the emergency services saying: \"Retraining takes time, the missions are coming now.\" In the meantime the old ambulances remain in service – a state that doesn't really reassure anyone.

One rescue technician I met yesterday at the ramp shrugged: \"We do our job, whether old or new. But it's a waste of time and money.\" Specifically: expensive vehicles that cannot be used efficiently, and additional burden for the existing staff.

If you hear sirens in the coming days: it could still be the same old vehicles that have reliably served for years. And until a final decision is made, Mallorca remains with this odd sight: shiny, new ambulances – and no key to start them.