The works in the surgical block of the Arnau de Vilanova hospital in Lleida will force the diversion of operations to the Santa Maria hospital and the Mi NovAliança clinic starting in May. The initial transfer will be between 60 and 70 weekly interventions, a figure that is equivalent to around half of the 136 operations that the center performs on average.
The reorganization of surgical activity will foreseeably continue until the end of 2028, with a more pronounced impact between August 2027 and February 2028. During that period, the Arnau will retain the most complex surgeries, including oncological, robotic, urgent, pediatric, and those of some specialties such as spine. Births will continue to be attended at the Lleida hospital.
Distribution of activity among three centers in Lleida
The Santa Maria hospital will assume otorhinolaryngology, urology, traumatology, gynecology, and digestive surgery interventions. For its part, the Mi NovAliança clinic, integrated into Siscat, will receive outpatient ophthalmology surgery, such as cataracts, and general surgery procedures that do not require hospital admission. Both centers are located in the capital of Lleida.
The delegate of Health, Rosa M. Pérez, remarked that the opening of new operating rooms will be planned progressively to avoid increases in waiting lists. She also conveyed a message of care continuity for users affected by the change of location.
"Patients will not change medical teams" - Rosa M. Pérez, Health delegate
"the same professionals will attend to you" - Rosa M. Pérez, Health delegate
"Patients will have their needs covered and assistance and follow-up guaranteed at the reference hospital" - Rosa M. Pérez, Health delegate
Unified surgical table to coordinate transfers
To order this redistribution, a unified surgical board has been created. This body works to coordinate activity between the three devices and minimize the impact on patients over the next few years.
"with the objective that the citizenry does not perceive any change in their care, beyond the change of space within the public health system" - Rosa M. Pérez, Health delegate
The director of Arnau de Vilanova, Núria Nadal, announced that each case will be managed individually. Each patient will receive a personalized communication with the place where they will be operated on, within a plan that, she defended, has been made with care criteria and in agreement with the professionals.
"Each patient will receive personalized communication informing them of the place where the intervention will take place" - Núria Nadal, director of Arnau
"it has been carried out following very clear clinical protocols and criteria, and by consensus with all professionals, bodies, and services" - Núria Nadal, director of Arnau
"it is a coordination challenge, but it is being faced with management and governance tools by all parties" - Núria Nadal, director of Arnau
A block with 24 operating rooms and more capacity for complex surgery
The expansion of the Arnau surgical block began in 2021. Until now, the work has focused on the structure and steel formwork. Starting next month, the interior phase of the work will begin, a step that will force a reduction in hospital activity and explains the diversion of some operations to other centers in Lleida.
When the work is finished, the hospital will go from 14 to 24 operating rooms. The new spaces will be equipped with high technology to handle interventions of greater complexity that are currently referred to Barcelona. The project also includes the renovation of the patient reception areas and the postoperative recovery and resuscitation areas.
The performance has a cost of 26.7 million euros, borne by Infraestructures de la Generalitat. To that figure is added an investment of 17.4 million in equipment, financed by CatSalut. The final objective is to reinforce the surgical capacity of the reference hospital of Lleida without interrupting care during a work that will still last several years.