The Murcian Health Service will hire more than 6,500 healthcare professionals this summer to guarantee medical care across the Region of Murcia during the peak holiday season, regional president Fernando López Miras announced Thursday during a question-and-answer session in the Regional Assembly.
The announcement came as the opposition raised questions about the regional healthcare system. PSOE parliamentary spokesperson Carmina Fernández asked about the appointment of Isabel Ayala, head of the Murcian Health Service, as regional health minister while the alleged prosthetics fraud investigated by Spain’s Financial and Economic Crime Unit, UDEF, was taking place.
López Miras defended Ayala’s record, highlighting her 22-year career as a doctor in the Region of Murcia. He said that, “objectively, there are few people with such broad knowledge of public healthcare at every level.”
During his response, the president said Ayala is preparing a plan to approve the hiring of 6,500 professionals for the summer months. The figure represents an increase of more than 500 contracts compared with the previous summer.
The regional government will initially allocate more than €37 million to the plan, €2 million more than last summer. According to government sources, the reinforcement system will remain in operation until September 30, ensuring continuity of healthcare services during a period marked by high demand and increased population movement.
More Doctors, Nurses and Support Staff
Government sources said nearly 455 of the new posts will be for doctors, more than double the number hired in summer 2025.
More than 4,000 non-physician healthcare professionals will also be recruited to strengthen care in hospitals and health centres throughout the region. Around 2,000 of these will be nurses, while the rest will include nursing assistants, midwives, physiotherapists, radiology technicians and other healthcare staff.
The plan also includes the hiring of about 1,800 non-healthcare professionals, including administrative assistants and management staff, to help ensure the smooth running of services.
Extra Emergency Coverage for Coastal Areas
The regional government has also planned specific reinforcements for coastal areas, in addition to the eight permanent Primary Care Emergency Services, known as SUAP, operating in Águilas, Mazarrón, Cartagena, La Unión, San Javier, San Pedro del Pinatar and Torre Pacheco.
The plan also maintains seven permanent Mobile Emergency Units, known as UME, in Águilas, Mazarrón, Cartagena, Torre Pacheco, La Manga-Centro and San Javier-San Pedro del Pinatar.
In Puerto de Mazarrón, medical and nursing staff will be available every night and around the clock on public holidays. The area will also have a 24-hour Advanced Life Support service until September 1, staffed by six nurses and six technicians.
The SUAP in Águilas will be reinforced every day of the week from 3 p.m. to 8 a.m., including public holidays, as was the case last year.
Los Alcázares will have a Mobile Emergency Unit made up of a doctor, a nurse and two emergency medical technicians from June 26 to October 18. In total, the service will involve six doctors, six nurses and 12 technicians.
La Manga Norte will also receive an Advanced Life Support nursing unit staffed by six nurses and six technicians. In addition, a non-emergency ambulance will be stationed in Puntas de Calnegre to support the 061 emergency medical service.
Mazarrón will have a Basic Life Support ambulance provided by the Red Cross, while three additional ambulances from Civil Protection will operate in San Pedro del Pinatar, San Javier and Los Alcázares.
According to the regional government, the special summer plan will strengthen the capacity of the Murcian Health Service to meet increased healthcare needs “at all levels of care” during the summer season.
