Son Llàtzer hospital diverts patients due to emergency department saturation

The emergency department at Son Llàtzer hospital in Mallorca experienced a collapse on Monday afternoon, forcing the temporary diversion of patients to Son Espases to manage extreme pressure. For approximately two hours, between 17:00 and 19:00, the hospital restricted the arrival of ambulances.

IB-Salut confirmed that five basic life support ambulances were redirected to Son Espases because Son Llàtzer had accumulated 34 patients awaiting hospitalization beds. While the emergency department did not close and patients arriving by their own means continued to receive care, the redistribution was necessary to prevent further saturation.

Sources indicate that this situation is not an isolated incident this summer. Saturation has been a recurring issue at both Son Llàtzer and Son Espases due to a seasonal increase in population, an aging patient demographic with higher care needs, and difficulties in discharging patients to free up hospital beds.