This improvement in medical care will begin at the Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII in Tarragona in April, while the Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova in Lleida will launch the service in June. Currently, severe stroke care at these centers is limited to weekdays, requiring patients to be transferred to reference hospitals such as Bellvitge or Vall d’Hebron outside these hours.
The Minister of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition, Sílvia Paneque, confirmed that Joan XXIII Hospital will begin offering mechanical thrombectomy from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, seven days a week, totaling 4,380 hours annually. This expansion represents a significant increase compared to the current coverage, which only includes weekdays.
The ultimate goal is to be able to provide 24-hour assistance starting in the third quarter of 2027.
To achieve full 24-hour coverage by 2027, Joan XXIII Hospital will expand its stroke unit with two new beds, reaching a total of eight, and will be supported by Bellvitge Hospital as a reference center. Similarly, Arnau de Vilanova Hospital will increase its capacity with four additional beds and will receive support from Vall d’Hebron Hospital for the implementation of continuous service.
The expansion to 12 hours daily in Lleida will represent an increase of 1,482 annual hours, as current care is restricted from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM on weekdays. This measure aims to ensure faster and more effective care for patients with severe ischemic strokes in both territories.
