Balearic Islands’ hospitals break surgery records

PUBLIC hospitals in the Balearic Islands have established a new record for the most surgeries performed in 2014.

A total of 53,873 operations were performed last year, 6.55 per cent more than in 2013 (50,563) and 21.6 per cent more than in 2012 (44,272).

Head of the Health Department, Marti Sansaloni, thanked all health professionals fr their effort in achieving this level of medical attention.

Out of the total surgeries, 65.2 per cent (35,126) were ambulatory, meaning patients did not have to stay in the hospital for the night, which Mr Sansaloni said went to show the great efficiency of the health care system.

In 2014, 19,451 were carried out in the Son Espases hospital, 11,103 in Son Llatzer, 6,252 in Manacor, 5,467 in Inca, 4,743 in Mateu Orfila and 6,634 in Can Misses.

The average number of days patients had to stay hospitalised was 6.4 and emergency services increased by 2.99 per cent.

Also noteworthy was the decrease in patients who made an appointment but failed to attend, which dropped from 8.10 per cent in 2013 to 7.56 per cent last year.