Emergencies and healthcare on La Palma
In an emergency: 112
For a medical emergency, accident, fire, dangerous situation, or when police or rescue assistance is needed, call 112. This single emergency number is free, operates 24 hours a day throughout the Canary Islands and is answered in Spanish, German and English, among other languages.
Answer the operator calmly and briefly: where are you, what has happened, how many people are involved, and is the injured person conscious, breathing and able to move? Follow the instructions given by the emergency professional and do not end the call until told to do so.
If an accident happens on a hiking trail, give the route number, such as PR or GR, the trail name, municipality, last sign or nearby viewpoint and the GPS coordinates from the phone whenever possible. Keep the phone available in case responders call back. Take a fully charged phone when hiking and consider a power bank for longer routes.
While the control room continues gathering information, it coordinates the medical, safety or rescue resources appropriate to the situation. The questions help prepare the most suitable response, so answer them as accurately as possible.
Hospital Universitario de La Palma
The island’s main public hospital, including its emergency department, is at Carretera de La Cumbre 28, Buenavista de Arriba, 38713 Breña Alta. Always call 112 for an immediate emergency. Further details are available on the official hospital page, and you can open its location in Google Maps.
Health centres and pharmacies
La Palma has health centres and local clinics in municipalities around the island. Catchment areas, opening times and out-of-hours arrangements can change. Find the appropriate facility with the official Canary Islands Health Service centre finder. To locate a pharmacy outside normal opening hours, see our page about pharmacies and on-duty services.
Health centres providing urgent care
The following centres provide a regular urgent care service or an out-of-hours primary care service. Operating times and specific services can change. Check the official centre finder before travelling; call 112 for an immediate or serious emergency.
Centro de Salud de Los Llanos de Aridane
Regular urgent care service (SNU). Calle Angélica Luis Acosta 2, 38760 Los Llanos de Aridane. Open in Google Maps.
Centro de Salud de Santa Cruz de La Palma
Regular urgent care service (SNU). Calle Pérez Galdós 5, 38700 Santa Cruz de La Palma. Open in Google Maps.
Centro de Salud de Mazo
Out-of-hours primary care service (PAC). Calle Maximiliano Pérez Díaz 9, 38730 Villa de Mazo. Open in Google Maps.
Centro de Salud de San Andrés y Sauces
Out-of-hours primary care service (PAC). Carretera General, without a street number, 38720 San Andrés y Sauces. Open in Google Maps.
Centro de Salud de Tijarafe
Urgent care for the north-western area. Calle La Molina 3, 38780 Tijarafe. Open in Google Maps.