Valencian Community hospitals show major surgical wait time disparities

Data from the Valencian Health Department reveals significant disparities in surgical waiting times across the Valencian Community. While the regional average wait for surgery is 88 days, individual hospital wait times vary drastically depending on the location and type of medical center.

Major reference hospitals in large cities face the longest delays. The Hospital General de Alicante reports an average wait of 145 days, serving a population of approximately 300,030. Other major centers with waits exceeding 100 days include Hospital La Fe in Valencia (124 days), Sant Joan d'Alacant (118 days), General d'Elx (116 days), General de València (104 days), and Castelló (100 days).

In contrast, regional or 'comarcal' hospitals generally report much shorter waiting periods. The Elx-Crevillent hospital has an average wait of 44 days, while the Torrevieja hospital reports 45 days. This imbalance highlights a healthcare divide where the speed of surgical scheduling is heavily influenced by a patient's municipality or region of residence.