A notable advance in Madrid's healthcare
Despite the operational challenges arising from the conflict between the medical community and the Ministry of Health, the hospital network of the Community of Madrid has managed to maintain its healthcare activity and significantly improve waiting times during the month of April. According to the latest data from the Madrilenian Health Service (Sermas), delays in surgery, outpatient consultations, and diagnostic tests have been contained.
One of the most notable indicators is the improvement in waiting times for surgical interventions. The average structural delay has decreased to 46.65 days, a slight reduction from the 47.47 days recorded in March. This progress is even more significant for those patients who were finally operated on, who waited an average of 61.05 days, nearly eight days less than their counterparts from the previous month.
The area of outpatient consultations also shows positive results. The total number of patients awaiting a first consultation with a specialist has slightly decreased, from 730,322 to 728,917 people. Additionally, the average delay has been reduced to 61.17 days. Regarding diagnostic tests, there was a decrease in the average delay from 54.09 to 53.90 days.
Despite the impact that medical strikes since December have had —resulting in more than 8,900 cancelled surgical interventions— hospitals have demonstrated a remarkable ability to reorganise their resources and prioritise complex cases or those with longer waiting times. This translates into a significant reduction in the total number of patients waiting between 90 and 180 days for surgery.
Among the hospitals that have excelled in efficiency is the Jiménez Díaz Foundation (FJD), recognised as the centre with the shortest average times for both surgery and outpatient consultations. With only 18.42 days for surgical interventions and 26.99 days for outpatient consultations, this hospital stands out as a model within the Madrid healthcare system.
However, there are notable variations between different hospitals and specialties within the Madrid healthcare system. Some public centres face average delays that far exceed a month and even reach up to 60 days in certain cases. In contrast, other hospitals like the Villalba General Hospital, with only 11.13 days, show how efficient management can make a difference.
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