, 2025-05-02 07:25:00
On April 28, the Spanish Iberian Peninsula experienced a general blackout starting at 12:33 PM Central European Summer Time (CEST). Despite the disruption, hospitals across the country maintained urgent medical care thanks to independent power systems and the efforts of healthcare professionals. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed that emergency services continued without incident, supported by backup generators.
As electricity was progressively restored throughout the evening, Spain’s Ministry of Health reported ongoing coordination with all regional health authorities, especially those considering a request for a formal state of emergency.
“Many hospitals have regained power from the grid, while others continue to rely on backup generators,” a spokesperson from the Ministry stated. “In several cases, these systems were replaced by military emergency units without complications.” The Ministry also stressed the importance of adhering to care recommendations from regional health services, which have begun reorganising clinical activities to prioritise urgent patient needs.
By early the following morning, Spanish Health Minister Mónica García expressed condolences and noted that as the country returned to normal, the healthcare system was “progressively regaining full functionality with stability and reliability.” According to National Grid Operator Red Eléctrica, 99.95% of power supply had been restored by 7:00 AM CEST.
Throughout the morning, regional health authorities began reporting on conditions in their local healthcare facilities:
Madrid
Hospitals in Madrid reported no overnight incidents, and full electrical service had been restored, according to the Community of Madrid’s Health Department. Emergency fuel supplies are in place to prepare for any future outages. All healthcare centres are resuming normal operations, and patients requiring imaging services will be redirected if equipment remains offline. No losses of vaccines or temperature-sensitive medications were reported.
Valencia
Carlos Mazón, president of the Valencian Government, reported that most hospitals in the region were operating under normal conditions, though four facilities — Vinaròs, La Pedrera (Dénia), Torrevieja, and Requena — were still using generators. He confirmed that home care services were ongoing, and that outpatient and primary care centres were expected to function at near-full capacity the following day, provided no further electrical or IT disruptions occur.
Castilla-La Mancha
In response to the nationwide blackout, the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha suspended all scheduled medical appointments and procedures in public hospitals. Health Minister Jesús Fernández Sanz urged patients not to attend previously scheduled visits, stating: “If you have any scheduled activity, we will cancel it; do not come, as we cannot attend to you.” The goal, he added, was to minimise electricity usage and preserve generator function by limiting non-essential operations.
By Tuesday, regional authorities reported a gradual recovery. Fernández Sanz noted that between 37% and 40% of scheduled outpatient consultations for that day were ultimately not carried out.
Asturias
During the night, the Asturian Health Department confirmed that care services remained active in several regions. In Jarrio, Cangas del Narcea, Avilés, Oviedo, Arriondas, Mieres, and Langreo, primary care centres and hospitals continued to operate. In Gijón, urgent care was consolidated at Jove and Cabueñes Hospitals overnight, while emergency services remained available at the health centres in Candás and Villaviciosa.
Navarra
Health authorities in Navarra announced that all health centres would open on Tuesday. Non-urgent interventions were expected to proceed as planned, although certain high-tech, non-urgent procedures would be rescheduled. Officials emphasised that ongoing healthcare services remained subject to real-time assessments of infrastructure stability. The region continues under alert according to the Navarra Territorial Emergency Plan, and the emergency response cabinet remains active.
Galicia
In Galicia, President Alfonso Rueda confirmed that the regional healthcare system continues to provide care across hospitals, emergency departments, and primary care centres. Special attention was given to individuals using home respiratory devices, who were invited to recharge their equipment at Continuous Care Points. Information services remained available through the emergency hotlines.
Hospitals managed by the Servizo Galego de Saúde (Sergas), Galicia’s public healthcare system, began gradually returning to normal on Tuesday following the restoration of the power supply. According to reports from healthcare unions and staff, urgent clinical activities were prioritised. However, some disruptions continued, particularly in IT systems and laboratory operations, due to lingering telecommunications issues.
Cantabria
Healthcare services in Cantabria were operating normally on Tuesday following the nationwide power outage on Monday. The regional health authorities expect to recover all postponed surgeries and diagnostic tests “probably by next week,” according to Health Minister César Pascual.
Most cancellations involved elective surgeries, as operating theatres require substantial power and energy conservation was necessary. A limited number of diagnostic procedures were also affected. While detailed figures were not available, Pascual stated that all postponed procedures would be rescheduled, following established protocols. He added that this week’s activity levels are already reduced due to the May Day holiday.
Andalucía
Although healthcare centres in Andalucía have resumed general operations, primary care services remain disrupted due to unresolved IT system outages. As a result, medical appointments at primary care clinics are being postponed, although facilities remain open to provide information and support to the public.
To safeguard vulnerable populations, the Andalusian Health Service has begun contacting patients who rely on home medical devices requiring electricity. These include oxygen concentrators, dialysis equipment, infusion pumps, and monitoring systems, among others, according to a statement from the regional Health and Consumer Department.
Cataluña
In Cataluña, the Regional Health Department has rescheduled outpatient consultations and non-urgent surgeries that were suspended on Monday. Although electricity has been restored, the healthcare system remains on high alert until the emergency status in the region is officially lifted.
To reinforce communications during future disruptions, hospitals have been equipped with radio transmitters, the Health Department reported on Tuesday.
This story was translated from El Medico Interactivo using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
