Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova in Lleida was due to extend its mechanical thrombectomy service to 12 hours a day, every day, from June 2026, according to information reported by Redacción Médica from the Generalitat's Department of Health.
The change affects patients with severe ischaemic strokes in Lleida. Mechanical thrombectomy is a specialist stroke treatment, and the expanded service was to be delivered in collaboration with Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron in Barcelona.
Two-stage plan for specialist stroke care
The Department of Health said the expansion in Lleida and Tarragona would be introduced in two stages, so that newly recruited staff could complete the required training and the services could be maintained over time.
- Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII in Tarragona was due to extend its service from April 2026.
- Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova in Lleida was due to do so from June 2026.
- The Department of Health was working towards 24-hour coverage in both areas during the second half of 2027.
Olga Pané, the Catalan health minister, said the Department of Health had also begun introducing artificial intelligence software in 2026 at all stroke referral centres. The software is intended to identify, from an initial CT scan, patients who could be candidates for thrombectomy.
“The extension will be carried out through collaboration with the referral hospitals,” the Department of Health said of the arrangements for Tarragona and Lleida.
Patients and families needing urgent stroke care should call emergency services. Treatment is organised by the health system according to the patient's clinical condition and referral route.
Primary sources: assistentsactes.salut.gencat.cat, Departament de Salut. Generalita de Catalunya, formacio.salut.gencat.cat. Reported by apdnoticies.com, David Punzano, segre.com, Ricard Álvarez, ERC PAERIA, Raquel Navarro, Eva de Frutos, sdistribucio, essapunt.com, APD Noticies.
