The President of the Government of the Valencian Community, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, announced an investment of more than €175 million in the expansion of Torrevieja University Hospital. The project will include the construction of new facilities, the creation of additional services and the recruitment of more than 650 specialists.
Thus, a project was presented to increase the built-up area by 30,000 square metres, representing a 75% expansion thanks to an adjacent plot measuring 11,492 square metres. This will make it possible to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the district, which covers ten municipalities whose population has already exceeded 225,000 residents.
Hospital expansion and increase in medical services
The expansion will increase the capacity of this medical centre, which opened in 2006, from the current 270 beds to 457, representing a 70% increase, and will also make it possible to increase the number of outpatient consultation rooms by 150. The hospital will have a new specialised centre with support services and a day hospital. Four operating theatres, new delivery rooms and an outpatient surgery unit will also be added, while intensive care units will be strengthened by increasing the number of beds and haemodialysis stations.
The hospital expansion plan provides for the recruitment of 667 new healthcare professionals, with an estimated annual cost of €25.9 million. Recruitment will cover all categories, from specialist doctors, nurses for specialised services and the surgical department to diagnostic imaging technicians, assistants, administrative and management staff, social workers and physiotherapists, as well as other professionals.
In addition, access roads around the entire perimeter will be improved and the car park will be expanded to 1,370 spaces. At present, there are just over 900 spaces, which is insufficient.
Project implementation timeline
According to the master plan, the expansion will be carried out in three phases to ensure continuity of clinical activity. Two years have been allocated for project development and three years for construction work. The hospital is expected to be fully operational in six years.
The expansion site is located to the east, within the La Ceñuela urban development plan, where a number of plots have been designated for infrastructure facilities, as the saltworks are located to the north, an area of single-family homes to the west, and the CV-95 road runs to the south. A residential area comprising 1,347 properties and almost 3,400 new residents is also planned here, along with a commercial area, educational facilities and green spaces.
Healthcare projects in the Valencian Community
A total of 22 projects to improve and expand hospitals and other medical centres are being implemented in the Valencian Community, with a total investment of €400 million. These projects concern municipalities such as Salinas, Los Montesinos, San Miguel de Salinas, Guardamar del Segura, Pilar de la Horadada and Orihuela Costa.
