Waiting lists in the Balearic Islands: Too many patients, too little OR time — and what must be done now

Waiting rooms, the smell of coffee and quiet despair

In the early morning a few people sit on hard chairs in the corridor outside the operating area of Son Llàtzer, the coffee machine's cup clinks, a bus rolls by outside, somewhere a monitor beeps — and the clock seems to stand still. This scene can now be observed on several islands: in Inca, Mahón or Ibiza scheduled procedures are being postponed for longer and longer.

Numbers that hurt

Almost 2,800 patients in the Balearic Islands are currently waiting longer than six months for a planned operation. The average waiting time is around 105 days — and compared to last year this is a sharp increase of almost 50 percent. These numbers are not abstract; they mean postponed hip and knee replacements, prolonged pain, limited mobility and growing worry in family corridors, as reported in Baleares: cada vez más pacientes esperan más de medio año para operaciones.

The guiding question: How can waiting times be reduced sustainably?

This is the central question behind the sober figures. The answer is not a magic button but a mixture of personnel policy, organizational changes and political priorities. We need to look more closely: which causes are known — and which aspects are too rarely discussed in the debate?

More than just a staff shortage

Clearly, specialists are lacking: operating room nursing staff, anaesthetists, medical specialists. But there are several layers behind this. The aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic led to catch-up effects, the tourist season adds extra strain in the summer months, and many clinics have changed their internal procedures — not always for the better. In addition, higher wages or more flexible conditions on the mainland are drawing staff away from the local market.

Little attention is paid to working conditions: short-term contracts, night and weekend shifts without a clear perspective, and the constant rotation of high-value cases between islands lead to burnout and migration. The infrastructure of some island hospitals is also not designed to quickly ramp up additional operating days.

What affected families really experience

In Palma a daughter tells: the mother is waiting for a hip replacement, appointments are postponed, phone calls lead nowhere (Hospital hotline crippled: Why appointment scheduling on the Balearic Islands is failing). Others travel to the mainland and pay privately — if they can afford it. For many this is not an option: travel costs, additional tests and the uncertainty whether a mainland appointment is really better add further burden.

Concrete approaches — immediately implementable

Some measures would bring short-term relief without taking years:

1. Additional operating days with targeted compensation: Clinics could offer targeted extra shifts — evenings or weekends — if staff are adequately compensated for them.

2. Mobile OR teams and island rotation: Experienced operating teams could temporarily rotate between islands to cover bottlenecks. A logistical concept focusing on standardized procedures would increase efficiency.

3. Fast recruitment channels: Shortened procedures for international specialists, recognition offices with clear timeframes and incentive packages for longer-term retention.

4. Better coordination and waiting list transparency: A shared waiting list platform for the Balearics that makes free capacities visible could allow patients to be relocated to last-minute free slots and minimize idle time.

5. Preventive and outpatient alternatives: More outpatient procedures, outpatient rehab and teleconsultation before and after operations reduce inpatient load and create space for more complex cases, in line with international analyses on reducing waiting times OECD: waiting times for health care.

Think long term — training and retention

Short-term measures help, but are no substitute for strategic personnel policy: apprenticeships, continuing education on the islands, better working conditions and prospects for young doctors and nurses are necessary so that the Balearics can permanently provide stable care.

Political responsibility and local reality

Authorities are already examining additional operating days and targeted hires. But this is not enough if processes are too bureaucratic or funds are not used in a targeted way, as highlighted in Empty Offices, Full Waiting Rooms: Why More Than 100 Leadership Positions Are Missing on the Balearic Islands. Political pressure is needed — and an understanding that health systems must remain resilient even in times without a pandemic.

A quiet wake-up call from hospital corridors

The numbers are sober but the effects are tangible: lost workdays, pain, palpable exhaustion among nursing staff and the feeling of being stuck in a holding pattern. A few extra operating days here, more flexible contracts there and better coordination between islands could improve a lot. The central question remains: Do we want to patch the problem short-term — or tackle it systematically?

In the corridor in front of Son Llàtzer, while the coffee cools and the Tramuntana pushes a few clouds over Palma, people continue to wait. And the islands should act now so that those waiting soon become people who experience healing — without months of hoping.