Madrid expands home palliative care services to 56 teams

The Community of Madrid is expanding its home palliative care services by adding seven new teams, bringing the total to 56 teams. This expansion, scheduled for implementation in the final quarter of 2026, aims to provide specialized care for patients with advanced illnesses, particularly oncological conditions, within their own homes.

The initiative will increase the total workforce to 171 professionals. This multidisciplinary staff includes 112 members in doctor-nurse teams, 17 psychologists, 14 social workers, 14 auxiliary nursing technicians, and 14 administrative staff. The goal is to provide comprehensive support to both patients and their families to improve quality of life.

By utilizing the resources of the Madrid Health Service (SERMAS), the region aims to manage the entire service through public health infrastructure rather than relying on external providers. This follows a previous allocation of 53 million euros approved in January to ensure high-quality care for patients in medium-stay units, which has already resulted in 347 hospital-based palliative care places.