Nursing shortage in Alicante puts healthcare at risk

The province of Alicante is facing a serious shortage of nurses. This is putting pressure on the quality of patient care. With only 4.78 nurses per 1,000 inhabitants, Alicante has the lowest nursing occupancy in the Valencia region. This number is well below the regional average of 5.5 and lags behind the national (6.19) and European (8.5) standards.

Major staff shortage due to aging population

According to the official Valencia Nurses Association (COENV), the shortage of nurses is likely to worsen due to the ageing of the sector. Almost 2,947 nurses in the region will retire in the next few years. The consequences are most serious in Alicante, where 1,397 healthcare professionals will soon be leaving, compared to 945 in Valencia and 605 in Castellón. Studies by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the General Council of Nurses confirm the need for action. Data from the Ministry of Health show that there is a shortage of 7,000 nurses in Alicante. In the Valencia region this is 16,000 and 100,000 in Spain as a whole.

New nurses, but too few jobs

To combat the nursing shortage, there are initiatives such as the creation of the Faculty of Nursing at the European University of Alicante and the expansion of the training at the Miguel Hernández University (UMH) in Elche. However, there are concerns that the number of nursing graduates will exceed the available jobs. Without structural jobs in the public health sector, a growing number of trained nurses will find themselves without work. Meanwhile, hospitals and health institutions continue to struggle with staff shortages.

Solutions to the nursing shortage in Alicante

Professional organisations are calling for concrete policy measures, such as direct recruitment of nurses in the public healthcare sector and improved working conditions. This is the only way to reduce the shortage of nurses in Alicante and to guarantee the quality of care.

Do you want to seize commercial opportunities on the Costa Blanca? We know how!