Anesthesiologists at 12 de Octubre Cease Overtime Work Over Employment Conditions. Starting June 1, anesthesiologists at Madrid's 12 de Octubre hospital will stop working overtime. This decision follows longstanding demands for better pay and improved working conditions. An increase in surgery waiting times is expected.
Anesthesiologists at the 12 de Octubre Hospital in Madrid have announced they will stop all voluntary overtime shifts starting June 1. The decision was supported by 91 out of 116 department specialists. This step is aimed at protesting working conditions, which doctors say have not changed in over ten years. Their main demands are to reduce the workweek to 35 hours, increase pay for on-call duties, decrease the share of temporary contracts, and raise the base salary.
Overtime shifts, known as “peonadas,” helped partially ease surgical backlogs, as the hospital lacks sufficient regular staff to meet demand. Now, according to El País, operations that were previously performed thanks to doctors' extra work will be postponed. The only exceptions will be transplants and emergency shifts, which anesthesiologists will continue to handle.
According to the latest data, in April, 2,934 patients were on the surgery waiting list at 12 de Octubre, with an average waiting time of 72 days—higher than the regional average. Representatives from the Amyts union point out that on-call pay remains among the lowest in the country in Madrid. The union considers a recent government proposal to raise the rate from €24.99 to €28.49 per hour on weekdays and from €27.36 to €31.19 on holidays insufficient.
Doctors emphasize that the refusal of 'peonadas' will lead to a decrease in their income, but consider it impossible to continue working under the previous conditions. According to them, in other regions, such as Galicia, similar protests have already led to improved conditions. In Madrid, however, despite years of demands, the workweek still stands at 37.5 hours, and on-call pay is lower than in most other autonomous communities.
Among additional demands are the reduction of temporary contracts, the creation of a separate negotiating platform for doctors, and a transition to a system where on-call duties will be strictly voluntary for five years. Anesthesiologists also insist on increasing the fixed portion of the salary based on qualification and responsibility.
For reference: In Spain, after the 2008 crisis, most regions increased doctors' workweeks to 37.5 hours, but in recent years many have returned to a 35-hour schedule. In Madrid, this issue remains unresolved. According to RUSSPAIN estimates, the shortage of medical staff and the overload of hospitals in the capital region persist, which directly affects the availability and timeliness of medical care.
