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Longer waits, growing frustration as confidence in Spain's public healthcare slips
New national survey shows specialist delays stretching beyond four months, even as most patients still back the public system
Patients across Spain are waiting longer than ever to see a medical specialist, and public confidence in the healthcare system is taking a noticeable knock as a result. The latest Health Barometer, published on Wednesday December 17, reports mounting delays, mixed experiences and a system under clear strain.According to the survey, people now report waiting an average of 128 days from a GP referral to a specialist appointment, up from just over 115 days in July. Almost one in five patients say they waited more than six months, while 43 percent believe waiting lists have worsened over the past year.
This growing frustration comes against a backdrop of continued pressure on medical staff and services. Recent efforts to ease staffing shortages like opening the door to foreign doctors in regions such as Andalucía show just how stretched the system has become, while recent strikes by doctors go to show how widespread the concerns are around working conditions and patient safety.
And public perception is clearly shifting. Overall confidence in the health system has fallen by four points in the last quarter, with fewer than half of respondents to the survey now saying it works “fairly well” or “well, although some changes are needed”. Satisfaction with public healthcare is slipping, even though most people still rely on it.
Interestingly, when asked, “If you or someone in your household needed a healthcare service, and you had the choice, would you go to a public or private centre?” the majority still favoured public care for GP visits, hospital admissions and emergencies. Specialist care, however, is where opinions start to wobble, with almost 40 percent saying they would choose private healthcare if they could.
Emergency departments also remain a pressure point. More than half of those who attended A&E in the past year spent between two and twelve hours there, from arrival to discharge or admission. Primary care access is another concern, with only 22% seen the same day or the next, and an average wait of nearly 10 days for a GP appointment.
Despite the delays, patient ratings tell a more balanced story. Hospital care and primary care still receive largely positive feedback, and specialist consultations are rated favourably by more than three quarters of patients. This contrast between long waits and generally good care helps explain why many Spaniards remain loyal to the public system, even as frustrations grow.
The survey also flags rising demand for mental health support, with more than one in five adults seeking help in the past year. As waiting times stretch on and pressures mount, the challenge for Spain’s health system is clear: restoring trust while keeping care accessible for all.
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