The Valencian Health Department has reduced night time security staffing at Torrevieja University Hospital by half as part of a cost-neutral reorganization aimed at maintaining surveillance across its facilities.
The change comes after the launch of a new 24-hour Continuous Care Point (PAC) at the Acequión Health Center, which began operating in August to handle out-of-hours emergencies.
Under the new arrangement, Torrevieja Hospital will now have three security officers during the day, down from four, and only two guards between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Previously, four officers covered both shifts. The department says the redistribution was necessary because the same security budget must now also cover Acequión’s expanded service hours — costs that were not included in the original contract.
Hospital sources warn that this reduction could compromise safety in a facility with 279 beds, where guards not only patrol but also monitor cameras, collect patient belongings, manage access points, and respond to emergencies and disturbances. “With only two officers on duty at night, tasks like fire response or evacuation procedures are extremely difficult to carry out effectively,” one hospital employee said.
The Health Department confirmed that the change is temporary. A spokesperson said, “While the renewal of the security contract, scheduled for March 2026, is being processed, staff distribution has been temporarily reorganized to ensure coverage at all healthcare centres.”
The reorganization assigns three security staff to Torrevieja Hospital and one to the Acequión centre, which now operates around the clock. “This measure guarantees continuous and safe care adapted to current needs,” the department said, adding that the upcoming contract renewal would likely include an increased budget to restore higher security levels at Torrevieja, La Loma, and Acequión.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, private security staff at Torrevieja Hospital intervened an average of 1.6 times per day in 2024, responding to 327 incidents over the past year — most involving disruptive patients. They also handled 17 incidents linked to aggressive behaviour by relatives.
Hospital staff have expressed concern that the latest cuts could stretch resources even thinner, especially during nighttime emergencies, at a time when both patient admissions and security incidents remain consistently high.
