Lorraine Williamson
Spain’s hospitals are facing one of the toughest starts to winter in recent years as an early flu surge collides with rising industrial unrest. Emergency units from the Canary Islands to the northern coast report overcrowding, postponed surgery lists and record admissions, while unions warn the strain has reached breaking point.
The flu season has arrived several weeks earlier than usual and with far greater intensity. Data from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III shows incidence jumping to 75.3 cases per 100,000 people, well above Spain’s epidemic threshold. Young children are being hit hardest, with rates more than doubling the national average.
This spike lands on a healthcare system still recovering from years of pressure. Other respiratory viruses — including COVID-19 — continue to circulate, adding to a winter mix that leaves emergency departments short of beds and short of staff.
Spain flu epidemic
Emergency units under pressure across Spain
Hospitals in Madrid are among the first to feel the strain. At Hospital Universitario El Escorial, the emergency chief describes a ward stretched beyond capacity. Patients wait on trolleys in corridors as surgeries are delayed and staff work extended shifts to manage the flow of flu cases, mostly type A.
The Canary Islands report similar scenes. At Las Palmas’ Hospital Insular, some patients remain in emergency units for days because no inpatient beds are available. Nurses say the congestion has become constant as winter viruses spread.
Further south, Andalucía faces some of the longest waits in the country. Emergency patients can spend up to 14 hours waiting for a bed. Once admitted, the wait for a ward can stretch to several days. Castilla-La Mancha is dealing with its own backlog, where primary care appointments now take more than two weeks to secure.
In the north, Asturias recorded one of its busiest days on record. HUCA treated 511 emergency patients in a single day, prompting unions to warn that the peak of the flu wave has not yet arrived. Routine procedures are already being pushed back.
Regions race to contain the winter surge
Several regional governments have begun introducing targeted measures. Catalonia is urging the use of masks in high-risk hospital areas such as oncology and transplant units. Vaccination campaigns have been intensified across the region, focusing on older residents and those with chronic illnesses.
In the Valencia region, authorities are hiring 273 extra healthcare workers to support emergency departments and observation units. The reinforcement package is expected to cost €1.5 million but is viewed as essential to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.
Strikes add new stress to an exhausted workforce
As hospital corridors fill, frustration inside the health workforce is boiling over. A coalition of unions has announced an indefinite nationwide strike for public healthcare workers from 27 January 2026, with walkouts planned every Tuesday. They argue that after years of negotiations, conditions remain unsafe and structurally unsustainable.
Unions say the Ministry of Health has refused to sign a comprehensive agreement on working hours, contract stability and career progression. Talks have reportedly stalled due to parallel negotiations involving groups outside the main bargaining process.
Doctors are planning separate industrial action. Medical associations, supported by CESM and SMA, have called a strike for 9–12 December 2025, demanding a dedicated statute that reflects the scope of modern medical practice and clarifies legal responsibilities within Spain’s public health framework.
Symptoms seen most often — and how to seek help safely
The flu cases recorded so far show familiar patterns: cough and fever dominate, followed by malaise, congestion and sore throat. According to emergency doctors, patients with mild symptoms who do not have underlying conditions should first turn to primary care or out-of-hours clinics. This helps prevent emergency departments from slipping further into saturation.
Continuity of care under threat as winter tightens
Officials insist that emergency care will continue during strike days, but many hospitals are already cancelling non-urgent surgeries and limiting outpatient activity. For vulnerable people — particularly the elderly and those with chronic illnesses — delays in diagnosis or treatment may have serious consequences if the pressure continues to climb.
As Spain moves deeper into winter, the combination of an early epidemic, exhausted staff and impending strike action raises urgent questions about resilience. Regional measures may ease some of the load, yet many frontline workers warn that sustained investment and structural reform are essential if Spain’s hospitals are to withstand the seasons ahead.
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