Tourists heading to Spain's Andalusia region this summer have been warned that there could be delays due to a shortage of healthcare personnel. Andalusia, including the famous Costa del Sol, flocked to the local beaches and hospitality venues last summer, attracting 6.9 million British people.
The reason for the potential shortage was appointed to arrive during the peak tourist season, consistent with the decision to take annual leave by some doctors and nurses.
As a result, local labor unions warn visitors that if they need medical attention, they may be delayed and slightly lacking in their care as there is no implementation of a contingency plan to take into account medical staff on vacation.
The union says the shortage of healthcare personnel has become the most obvious since July 1st and can become very serious, so doctors will have to close afternoon clinics in some areas. The union claims that up to 25% of hospital operations could be reduced, so hospitals operate at 75% of their regular rates.
Last year alone, Andalusia's staff numbers fell 18% compared to 2024, as the number of contracted people fell during that period.
Satse Union's Pepe Sánchez spoke to I about the situation and said the issue has been exacerbated by the reduction in health services in Andalusia since the Covid-19 pandemic and year-on-year staffing cuts.
He explained: “Jellyfish stabs, Legionnaire's disease and food poisoning are only a few of the things that tourists fall in the summer. However, since the pandemic, around 20,000 medical staff have been cut in Andalusia alone.”
Tourists traveling to Europe are not the only warning issued by a lack of medical staff among tourist protest recommendations across the continent.
Actors protesting overtourism are being brought to roads in cities like Spain, Italy and Portugal, calling for more steps to stop excessive numbers of tourists from killing the streets.
So far, protests have been seen in Portugal's capital, Lisbon, Italy's Venice, Palermo, Milan, Genoa, Naples, Ibiza, Granada and Palma.
Talking to Skye is that there is only a problem with the city of Barcelona, and 21-year-old Carmen Naranjo felt their local heritage was dead and their city was becoming a “recreation park.”
She explained: “The rise of social media and the Airbnbs appears to have given up on traditions, festivals and local spots in favor of popular tourism that is not properly involved in Spanish and Catalan cultures or small local businesses.
“It is not fair that Barcelona people must endure the unstable salary of hospitality to serve the mass tourism that stays in these short-term rental apartments.
