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The recent departure of two of the five urologists at Torrevieja Hospital has left the specialty in a precarious situation. The resulting vacancies have led to the cancellation of numerous appointments, many of which patients have been waiting months for, and have placed a significant burden on the remaining three urologists. In response, the hospital’s management has stated that a Public Employment Offer (OPE) is pending to address the staffing shortfall.
In recent weeks, two of the five specialists in the Urology Department at Torrevieja University Hospital have left their positions. This has resulted in the cancellation of many medical appointments, some of which had been delayed for months.
As a result, patients requiring follow-up care, especially those recovering from surgery within the public health system, are turning to private healthcare options available in Torrevieja, such as the local hospital and specialized medical centers.
According to the Torrevieja Health Department’s Management Report, the urology specialty is already one of the areas with the longest wait times for specialized care, with an average delay of 147 days. This situation is expected to worsen with a 40% reduction in staff for a department that handled over 4,500 consultations last year.
The Health Department’s management has clarified that, over the past two years, the Urology Department has been staffed by five specialists. “For various professional reasons, two have resigned from their roles at the hospital,” the report explained. “Currently, the remaining three urologists are continuing all the care responsibilities, but the department’s future is uncertain as we await the resolution of the OPE related to this specialty. This may result in new staff coming in to replace those who leave.”
However, union representatives are concerned that before the OPE is resolved, the remaining three physicians may choose to leave due to the increased workload and lack of immediate plans to fill the vacancies.
Union sources also noted that other medical specialties are maintaining their full staff levels after the challenges caused by the return of the Health Department to direct public management in November 2021, which, for example, affected the radiology department. In 2024 alone, the department added 211 healthcare workers to its staff, doubling the workforce since the Generalitat took direct control after the contract with Ribera Salud was terminated. The department now employs 2,206 healthcare professionals.
Despite these increases, the unions highlighted ongoing problems in urology and dermatology. In dermatology, surgeries are being outsourced to the private Ribera Salud clinic in Rojales. The three urologists in the department now handle a patient base of 215,000 residents across ten municipalities: Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Pilar de la Horadada, Rojales, San Fulgencio, San Miguel de Salinas, Los Montesinos, Benijófar, and Formentera del Segura.
Urology is a medical and surgical specialty that addresses conditions related to the urinary tract, adrenal glands, retroperitoneum, and male reproductive system. It involves both medical treatments (e.g., urinary tract infections and benign prostatic hyperplasia) and surgical procedures (e.g., bladder and prostate cancer, kidney stones, congenital abnormalities, and traumatic injuries).
Health Department Budget
The Torrevieja Health Department operates with a budget of €233 million in 2024, reflecting a 6% increase from the previous year, and daily expenditures of €638,000. Of this budget, €119 million (53%) is allocated to personnel expenses, which have increased by 11% this year. The workforce includes over 2,200 healthcare professionals, with 70% of them being women. Notably, the number of statutory civil servants now outnumbers the previously contracted staff from Ribera Salud in 2021.
Serving a population of 215,000, which includes a significant proportion of elderly and foreign residents, the department managed 1,784,346 consultations in primary care in 2024. The average wait time for hospital consultations was 59 days, and the hospital admitted 14,163 patients, most of whom were emergency cases. Additionally, the hospital recorded 1,143 births, with 233 cesarean sections.
The hospital has 229 inpatient beds, 18 intensive care beds, 10 psychiatric beds, and 13 pediatric/neonatal beds.
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