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Regional Spain health waiting-time trends amid mixed results

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2026-08-24 11:43 UTC → 2026-08-31 08:21 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Regional health trends in Spain show divergent results regarding waiting lists and service efficiency. In the Community of Madrid, while overall waiting lists decreased by 3.34% in July 2026 to 945,878 pending appointments, surgical waiting lists hit a record high of 114,627 patients, a 22.12% increase from July 2025. The region is investing nearly €30 million to modernize health centers, including a new physiotherapy unit at the La Plata Health Center in Torrejón de Ardoz. In the Valencian Community, the Economic and Social Committee reported that 2025 ended with 313,000 patients awaiting specialist consultations, a 5.21% annual increase. At the Hospital Universitari de la Plana, average emergency room stays rose by 62.2% in one year, reaching 5 hours and 20 minutes in 2025. While the PSPV political group has demanded explanations for these delays, the PPCV has defended the administration, noting that wait times for life-threatening surgical interventions have dropped from over two months to 17 days. The Valencian public health workforce grew by 10.6% since 2022, reaching 71,437 professionals by the end of ~~2025, partly due to~~ 2025. New data from the ~~direct management of former concessions~~ Valencian Health Department highlights significant disparities in ~~Dénia and Manises. Conversely,~~ surgical waiting times. While the ~~Hospital Universitario Vega Baja~~ regional average is 88 days, major reference hospitals in ~~Orihuela has successfully reduced priority-1 surgery waits from 47~~ large cities face much longer delays, such as the Hospital General de Alicante at 145 days ~~in 2023~~ and Hospital La Fe at 124 days. Conversely, regional or ‘comarcal’ hospitals report shorter waits, with Elx-Crevillent and Torrevieja reporting approximately 44 to ~~12 days in June 2026.~~ 45 days. Navarre’s public health system, Osasunbidea, continues to face significant backlogs. In July 2026, the traumatology waiting list reached a new record of 15,669 patients. The total specialist waiting list rose to 64,235, the highest since August 2025, while surgical lists grew to 10,234 patients. ~~Despite a record €1.561 billion budget, average waits reached 83 days for specialists and 109 days for surgery.~~

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