The Valencian Regional Health Minister, Marciano Gómez, and the Mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolón, have announced that the council will provide twelve thousand square metres of land for the future expansion of Torrevieja University Hospital. The announcement was made on Wednesday and is described as a first step in a project that does not yet have a defined budget or a completed functional plan.

The expansion responds to long-standing demands from residents’ groups who say the hospital and its health centres are under growing pressure. The Torrevieja health department serves ten coastal and near-coastal municipalities in the Vega Baja area, covering more than 220,000 registered health cards, as well as seasonal and temporary residents.

The Health Minister said the future plan is likely to include more operating theatres, outpatient consultation space and additional hospital beds, although details have not been finalised. A functional plan is due to be presented before the summer. Separately, the regional health authority has already tendered a 3.7 million euro modular extension for outpatient services, rehabilitation and haemodialysis.

The announcement comes days before a planned public demonstration calling for improvements to local healthcare. Campaigners argue that waiting times for primary care appointments regularly exceed two weeks, a claim the Health Minister has disputed.