More than a week's wait for almost half of patients in the Balearic Islands

PalmPrimary Care in the Balearic Islands is accumulating delays that, according to a study by the Association for the Defense of Public Health in the Balearic Islands (ADSPIB), significantly affect patients' access to medical appointments. The organization reports that almost half of users have to wait more than seven days to get an appointment with their family doctor.

The data is part of a self-produced study conducted over twelve days in March, based on 29 cases collected from 25 health centers in Mallorca. According to this sample, 78% of in-person medical appointments are scheduled with more than a 48-hour wait, while in 44% of cases, the appointment is delayed seven days or more. In five situations, the delay exceeds ten days.

In the case of telephone consultations, the situation is even worse: almost all exceed a 48-hour wait, and two-thirds reach or exceed a week. Conversely, nursing appointments show better response times, with a higher percentage of attention within the first 48 hours.

The study also calculates that the average waiting time for a medical appointment that is not resolved on the same day or the next day is 7.52 days, a figure very similar to that reflected in the latest Health Barometer.

The organization reports that these delays are not visible in the public data of the regional health service, IB-Salut, and calls for greater transparency to assess the real situation of the system. They also warn that these delays can have a direct impact on patients' health and contribute to an increase in hospital emergencies.

Coinciding with World Primary Care Day, ADSPIB has called for two rallies this week in Mallorca, in Alcúdia and Palma, to advocate for care that is "accessible, quality, and without delays".