Mallorca health row: 31,500 wait for Balearic specialists
31,500 people across the Balearic Islands are waiting for specialist appointments, socialist MP Teresa Suárez says: the figure has risen from 20,000 in a year. She makes the claim at the Balearic Parliament in Palma, Mallorca, on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, and calls for health minister Manuela García to resign.
Son Espases and cancer care
Suárez says the loss of experienced staff has added to problems at Son Espases Hospital. García rejects her criticism and says the hospital continues to improve.
The debate also turns to cancer care. Socialist MP Pilar Carbonero says time matters for cancer patients. García points to more staff and shorter waits for first consultations and operations. She says the government will keep working to cut waits.
Nurses’ overtime dispute
Another socialist MP, Patricia Gómez, says there has been a persistent shortage of nurses over the past year. She says the government paid for 200,000 overtime hours in 2025 instead of putting more money into hiring. She also says doctors can be paid overtime for extra work while nurses cannot, and singles out Eivissa as a particular concern.
García points to staff recruited by the government and backs allowing nurses to lead local health districts.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com