Balàfia elderly care centers face management changes in Lleida

The Catalan government's decision to change the management model for the Balàfia I and Balàfia II elderly care residences in Lleida has sparked significant concern among workers and residents. The Department of Social Rights has declined to automatically renew the contract with the public company Gestió de Serveis Sanitaris (GSS) and instead plans to open a competitive tender process.

Social Rights Minister Raúl Moreno stated that the change is intended to move toward a model more centered on person-centered care, citing “some deficiencies in the previous management.” However, critics and the workers' committee have questioned the lack of transparency regarding these alleged deficiencies, noting that a recent inspection gave the centers a score of 85 out of 100.

The two facilities provide 156 residential places and 60 day-care spots. The workers' committee is calling for the government to take over direct management to prevent the centers from falling into private hands, warning that privatization could lead to higher staff-to-resident ratios and poorer working conditions. GSS has indicated it may participate in the tender if the new conditions are not “very drastic.”