Murcia hospitals at full stretch as post-holiday pressures mount
Emergency rooms crowded despite falling flu numbers, with ministers warning of potential post-Christmas spike
Hospitals across the Region of Murcia faced a challenging Wednesday this week, with nearly 100 patients left waiting for beds. The hardest hit was Virgen de la Arrixaca in El Palmar, where around 50 people were caught between pre-hospitalisation and observation areas. Reina Sofía Hospital had 22 patients waiting, while Morales Meseguer counted another 20, as staff tried to manage the holiday backlog.Frontline doctors described the situation as intense. "We're at full capacity; it's been a complicated morning," said José Antonio Serrano, head of emergencies at Morales Meseguer. During December the department handled an average of 268 patients a day, which dropped to 189 on Three Kings' Day, but now a post-holiday surge is expected.
At Reina Sofía, César Cinesi, head of the Emergency Department, reported a full pre-admission unit and a nearly packed observation ward. "We have a lot of H1N1 influenza cases, around 25% of those waiting, and many are over 65 with chronic conditions," he explained, noting a 21% increase in daily visits compared with normal.
While emergency rooms struggled, official figures suggest some easing in infections. Acute respiratory infections fell by 9.5% in the first week of the year, largely due to a 23.7% drop in flu cases to 149 per 100,000 inhabitants. This marks the second consecutive week of decline, reflecting a broader national trend and a decrease in hospital flu admissions, such as Reina Sofía's flu beds falling from a peak of 53 to 36. Cases of bronchitis and bronchiolitis rose slightly, by 5.6%, and COVID-19 by 20%, but overall pressure on services remains high after an unusually early and intense flu season driven by the H3N2 variant.
Health Minister Juan José Pedreño urged caution despite the falling figures. "The decreased infections may be unrealistic" because holiday monitoring slowed, and increased social interaction over Christmas could trigger a rebound, he said during a visit to Arrixaca. He recommended mask-wearing at clinics and vaccinations against flu and COVID-19. Experts like Enrique Bernal from Reina Sofía echoed the warning: "We've passed the peak, but holiday effects are still unfolding."
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