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People in the Region of Murcia have given their public healthcare system a strong vote of confidence, awarding it an average score of 8.7 out of 10 in the latest Perceived Quality Survey for 2025.

 

The poll, carried out among 19,415 users of the Murcian Health Service, shows a slight rise from last year’s 8.6 rating. Announcing the results after the weekly Cabinet meeting, regional government spokesperson Marcos Ortuño said the findings demonstrate that “citizens overwhelmingly highlight the professionalism and humane treatment provided by healthcare staff.”

 

In Primary Care, three out of four of the 9,350 people surveyed rated their health centre 8 or higher. Around 95 percent of adults and more than 90 percent in paediatrics praised the professionalism and personal treatment of doctors and nurses. Trust in frontline staff remains high across the board, with 95.5 percent rating their family doctor as good or very good, and 97.6 percent saying the same of their primary care nurse.

 

Hospital services also received particularly strong feedback. In paediatrics, 93 percent of patients scored overall satisfaction at 8 or above, and 92 percent said they would recommend their hospital. In obstetrics, 92 percent of women rated their childbirth care 8 or higher, with similar approval for pain management and staff professionalism.

 

Mobile Emergency Units were among the best rated services, with 93 percent scoring their experience 8 or above. Even hospital emergency departments, often under pressure, recorded a 7.7 satisfaction score for waiting times.

 

However, the survey also highlights ongoing frustration with access, especially at health centres. Patients reported waiting an average of five days for a Primary Care appointment. More than 37 percent said they had to wait six days or longer, while only 45.4 percent were seen within three days.

 

Satisfaction with these waiting times was markedly lower, scoring 6.8 compared to 8.4 for the care itself.

 

The Health Ministry stressed that the survey reflects “perceptions” rather than official waiting list data, and maintains that 60 percent of patients are seen within two days.

 

Specialist care is another pressure point. One in three patients reported waiting at least four months for a first outpatient appointment, and 5.2 percent waited more than a year. Satisfaction with those waits also averaged 6.8.

 

The findings land at a time when more than 186,000 patients in the Region of Murcia are set to be assigned a new family doctor amid further strike action announcements, bringing renewed focus to access and continuity of care.

 

For many residents, the message is clear. They value the people delivering care, but they want to be seen sooner.

 

Image: Archive