Madrid authorities have once again stated that no violations were found in the quality and patient safety departments at Hospital de Torrejón. A second audit, conducted on behalf of the regional Ministry of Health, confirmed that all procedures meet the standards set for public clinics in the region. The inspection covered key areas—from care standards to compliance with safety protocols.
The report notes that hospital staff acted strictly within the requirements set out in the contract with SERMAS (Servicio Madrileño de Salud). The review focused not only on medical service quality, but also on the implementation of safe practices, pain management for patients, and improvements in internal management. According to the results of the audit, none of the areas raised concerns among the inspectors.
Official response
The regional Ministry of Health emphasized that since the release of controversial audio recordings, in which the former Ribera Salud manager allegedly called for increasing waiting lines for profit, all actions of the hospital have been under close scrutiny. The first inspection was launched immediately after reports of possible violations emerged. No irregularities were found at that time either, but to provide additional assurance, internal checks were tightened and a follow-up audit was conducted.
The official statement from the agency says that all necessary measures to control the situation have been taken. The results of both inspections were deemed satisfactory, and the hospital staff’s work meets the required standards. Authorities assure that any suspicions of violations are thoroughly investigated, and additional measures are implemented if necessary.
Opposition’s stance
Despite the inspectors’ conclusions, opposition parties — Más Madrid and PSOE — insist on the need for a prosecutor’s investigation. In their view, only intervention by the prosecutor’s office will fully clarify whether there were any violations by the private operator managing the hospital. In addition, Más Madrid representatives are calling to expand inspections to other medical facilities run by Quirón.
The opposition believes that the scandal involving audio recordings should not go without consequences. They emphasize that it is important not only to inspect Torrejón but also to ensure transparency in the operation of all clinics with private capital involvement. Meanwhile, according to the authorities, no issues related to the quality or safety of medical care have been identified in any of these centers.
Statements from the regional leadership
The President of the Madrid autonomous community, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, used a recent public appearance to stress that the government will respond firmly to any attempts to violate healthcare standards. She promised that any cases of malpractice would be stopped, and that the healthcare system would remain accessible to all residents of the region, regardless of their financial situation.
Ayuso noted that authorities will continue to monitor the situation and will not allow anyone to be left without medical care. According to her, all decisions will be made based on the interests of patients and in line with the principles of equality. She also assured that the government is ready to act decisively if new evidence of possible violations emerges.
Assessment criteria
The Ministry of Health explained that the performance of all public hospitals is evaluated according to five main criteria. These include quality of care, patient safety, implementation of safe practices, pain control, and the development of quality management systems. In the case of Torrejón, no violations were found in any of these areas.
Technical specialists conduct regular inspections to ensure standards are being met. The authorities emphasize that the monitoring system is transparent, and any deviations are promptly recorded and corrected. If necessary, independent experts are brought in for inspections.
In case you didn’t know, Ribera Salud is a major private company specializing in the management of healthcare facilities in Spain. It operates under a public-private partnership model, providing services at several regional hospitals, including Torrejón. In recent years, the company has repeatedly been in the spotlight due to ongoing debates about the effectiveness and transparency of this management system. In 2024, Ribera Salud changed ownership, which also sparked discussion within the professional community.
We previously covered this in our article “Madrid authorities defend waiting time figures at Torrejón hospital amid controversy.” At the time, officials emphasized that wait times at Torrejón hospital remained below the national average, and the audio recording scandal did not affect the government’s confidence in the institution’s quality of work. For more details about the situation and the responses of the parties involved, you can read our earlier report.
