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Murcia will bring in more than 6,000 extra staff this summer to strengthen healthcare services across the Region. The move comes as part of a €35 million investment announced by regional president Fernando López Miras on Wednesday, aimed at covering holiday absences and reinforcing facilities in areas that see their populations swell during the warmer months.

 

The announcement comes as other regions across Spain, including neighbouring Andalucía, are also preparing to boost their healthcare services during the busy summer months by recruiting 36,500 extra staff for the same purpose. Murcia’s plan will run until 30 September and involves both healthcare and administrative staff working across all health areas.

 

Speaking at the Reina Sofía University General Hospital in Murcia, during a ceremony marking the hospital's 20th anniversary and the 500th anniversary of the original General Hospital of Murcia, López Miras stressed the importance of supporting health workers in what continues to be one of Spain’s most underfunded regions.

 

"We will continue to ensure that our healthcare personnel have the necessary resources to carry out their work as they do,” said the president. “They are a source of pride for the entire Region and for all of society, and that is why we must make every effort necessary to maintain their healthcare.”

 

Of the 6,000 new appointments, around 200 will be doctors, while over 4,000 will be other healthcare staff, including approximately 2,000 nurses. The remaining positions will be made up of midwives, nursing assistants, physiotherapists, radiology technicians and other key roles. Around 1,800 non-healthcare professionals will also be hired to support the system, such as admin staff and clerical workers.

 

As with previous years, temporary clinics and care centres will be opened in high-demand areas to cater for both residents and the influx of holidaymakers who descend on the coast and rural retreats during the summer. Despite the nationwide shortage of doctors, the Murcian Health Service has been able to maintain solid summer coverage through careful planning and the ongoing commitment of its teams.

 

The healthcare announcement was made during a special presentation at Reina Sofía Hospital, where it was also confirmed that Queen Emeritus Sofía will return to Murcia on 27 November to mark the close of the anniversary celebrations, just as she did for the hospital’s opening in 2005.

 

Since then, the hospital has become a national benchmark in various specialties. It was the first in the Region to use robotic surgery for prostate cancer, and is now a reference centre for ocular surface surgery. Key departments such as the Eating Disorders Unit, Hospital Detoxification Unit, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Unit continue to lead the way in patient care and medical innovation.

 

 

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