Hospitals across the province of Alicante are experiencing growing strain as flu cases continue to climb. According to the regional respiratory infection surveillance system, hospitalisations for severe respiratory infections have risen significantly, reaching a rate of 18.5% across the Valencian Community. People over 80 are the most affected, and 31.8% of patients admitted with acute respiratory problems have been diagnosed with influenza.

Hospitals in Alicante, Torrevieja, Orihuela and Dénia are among the most pressured. Staff at Alicante’s Doctor Balmis Hospital report a marked rise in respiratory cases, with more than 400 people attending urgent primary care on Wednesday. Sant Joan Hospital also reports heavy demand and shortages of nurses, auxiliary care technicians and porters, along with a lack of available beds.

Dénia Hospital has faced long waiting times for admissions, with some patients reportedly waiting up to 40 hours for a bed and as many as 200 people in the emergency waiting room at one point. Other centres, such as Alcoy and Marina Baixa, say conditions have improved due to changes in the way emergency care is managed, although nursing staff in Marina Baixa report increased workload.

Elche Hospital currently has available beds but notes a rise in less serious cases attending urgent care. Torrevieja and Orihuela hospitals continue to report high pressure and staffing gaps, while staff in Elda highlight shortages in microbiology services, which can prolong isolation times for paediatric patients and add to overall demand.