The expansion works in the surgical block of the Arnau de Vilanova hospital will force the transfer of a significant part of the interventions to the Santa Maria hospital and the Mi NovAliança clinic starting next May. This reorganization directly affects the city of Lleida and will extend until the end of 2028, when the total completion of the works is expected. The situation will generate a greater impact during the period between August 2027 and February 2028.
Redistribution of surgical activity
The diversion will begin by transferring between 60 and 70 weekly operations, a figure that represents around half of the 136 interventions currently hosted by the hospital center on average. The project began its construction phases in 2021 and has initially focused on the steel structure and floors. With the start of interior work from June, it will be necessary to reduce surgical activity in the main facility.
The relocation will affect specific specialties depending on the type of procedure. Otolaryngology, urology, traumatology, gynecology, and digestive surgery operations will be transferred to the Santa Maria hospital. For its part, the Mi NovAliança clinic, which is part of the Catalan Health System, will receive outpatient ophthalmology interventions, such as cataracts, and general surgery that does not require hospitalization. Births will continue to be attended at Arnau de Vilanova.
Maintaining Complexity and New Capability
The Lleida center will maintain attention for surgeries of greater complexity, including oncological, robotic, urgent, pediatric, and those related to the spine. The expansion of the surgical block will allow for an increase in capacity from the current 14 operating rooms to 24 when the renovations are completed. These new spaces will be equipped with high technology to assume some interventions of greater difficulty that are currently referred to centers in Barcelona. The works also include the renovation of the surgical patient reception areas and the postoperative recovery and resuscitation zones.
To manage this transition, a unified surgical board has been created with the aim of coordinating activity between the different centers. The delegate for Health, Rosa M. Pérez, has assured that patients will not change medical teams as they will be attended by the same professionals from Arnau. Furthermore, she has highlighted that patients will have their needs met and assistance and follow-up guaranteed at the reference hospital. Pérez has explained that the planning has been carried out following very clear protocols and clinical criteria, agreed upon with all the professionals, bodies, and services involved.
"Each patient will receive personalized communication informing them of the place where the procedure will take place" - Núria Nadal, director of Arnau de Vilanova
"It is a coordination challenge, but it is being faced with management and governance tools by all parties" - Núria Nadal, director of Arnau de Vilanova
"Citizens do not perceive any change in their care, beyond the change of space within the public health system" - Rosa M. Pérez, Health delegate
The economic investment allocated to this project amounts to 26.7 million euros for infrastructure works, financed by Infraestructures de la Generalitat. Additionally, 17.4 million euros will be allocated to the acquisition of equipment, co-financed by CatSalut. This modernization seeks to optimize the healthcare response in Lleida and improve the technological standards of the public health service in the province.