The nursing collective in the province of Alicante has expressed concern over the severe structural shortage of professionals, the increase in aggressions, and the need for full implementation of nurse prescribing. During an event held in Alicante's Plaza 25 de Mayo, it was highlighted that the province has fewer than five nurses per thousand inhabitants, a figure significantly lower than the regional and national averages.
“"We need almost 1,500 more nurses to match the rest of the autonomous community, about 2,800 to reach the national average, and up to 8,000 to meet European ratios."
The collegiate representative warned that, at the current rate, it would take between 22 and 29 years to reach the European average. Currently, about 9,700 nursing professionals work in the province. This situation leads to a high workload and maintains job insecurity in many contracts, despite efforts to consolidate staff.
One of the central demands is the greater implementation of nurse prescribing in the Valencian Community. Currently, prescribing is only allowed for wounds and burns, a capability operational since May 2025. In other autonomous communities, more protocols have been developed, including smoking cessation, local anesthetics, diabetes, hypertension, ostomies, oral anticoagulation, fever, and urinary tract infection.
“"Expanding these competencies, always within our scope, would allow us to improve waiting lists and provide better patient care."
However, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health has indicated that, for now, there are no additional protocols imminent for the Valencian Community. The collective has also expressed concern about aggressions against healthcare professionals, with eight aggressions recorded in the province of Alicante in 2025, six of which resulted in legal proceedings.
