The waiting list for surgical interventions in Catalonia stood in December 2025 at an average of 142 days, exceeding four and a half months, according to data from the Servei Català de la Salut. At that time, 209,986 citizens were waiting for an operation, which represents an increase of 0.7% compared to the previous year.
More than 900,000 people awaiting medical attention
The total number of people on waiting lists for surgery, diagnostic tests, or outpatient appointments reached 914,769 in December 2025, the second highest figure since 2016. The all-time high was recorded in December 2024, with 922,117 patients, so the current figure represents a reduction of 0.8%.
Regarding outpatient consultations, 509,602 patients were awaiting a first visit with a specialist, 1.8% less than the previous year. 55% of these patients are women. The average wait to access an outpatient consultation increased to 120 days, ten days more than in 2024.
Specialties with the longest delays and affected hospitals
Traumatology is the specialty with the most people waiting, with 93,072 patients and an average of 188 days. Urology follows, with 167 days; otorhinolaryngology, with 143 days; and allergy, with an average of 106 days.
In the Hospital de Sabadell, waits exceed ten months in several specialties. Urology reaches 707 days, traumatology 349 days, and otorhinolaryngology 318 days. At Mútua de Terrassa, digestive patients wait a year and a half. At Sant Joan de Déu de Martorell and the Hospital General de Granollers, traumatology patients face delays close to eleven months.
Surgical interventions and guaranteed times
During 2025, 423,185 people underwent surgery in SISCAT centers, a thousand more than the previous year. Spinal instrumentation surgery has 3,725 people on the waiting list, with an average of 242 days.
Cataract surgeries are the most numerous, with 22,725 patients and an average wait of 76 days. Skin lesion excisions add up to 10,781 people on the waiting list and an average of 134 days. The Servei Català de la Salut establishes a maximum time of 180 days for cataracts, knee or hip prostheses.
Oncology and Deadline Compliance
For oncological surgical interventions, no specialty exceeds the guaranteed access times of 45 days in most cases. In December 2025, bladder malignant neoplasia had 651 patients on the list with an average wait of 26 days. Skin cancer accumulated 416 patients and 20 days of waiting, while breast cancer registered 355 patients and 16 days of delay. In total, 2,429 people had a cancer-related intervention pending.
According to data published by CatSalut, almost all hospitals meet the 45-day deadline for different types of malignant neoplasia, with few exceptions involving few patients.
"The data that appears on the CatSalut website does not correspond to reality due to an update problem in the sending and/or reception of information, and they assure that at the end of December there were no patients waiting for surgeries with a guaranteed time for more days than established" - Spokesperson, Hospital del Mar
Diagnostic tests and outpatient consultations
In December 2025, the average wait for a diagnostic test was 82 days, four less than the previous year. 195,181 people were waiting their turn for a test. During the year, 959,724 diagnostic tests were performed in the Catalan public system.
- Magnetic resonance imaging scans are the tests with the most people on waiting lists, 42,300, with an average of 66 days.
- Computed tomography scans (CT scans) add up to 31,129 patients and an average of 54 days.
- Echocardiograms have 19,060 people on the list and an average of 85 days.
- Polysomnography tests present the longest delay, with an average of 145 days.
The Catalan Health Service guarantees a maximum waiting time of 45 days for most oncological interventions, 60 days for bladder and prostate, 90 days for cardiac surgeries, and 180 days for cataracts, knee or hip prostheses. The CatSalut establishes maximum reference times according to the severity of the illness: preferential priority (90 days), medium (180 days), and low (365 days).