The Hospital de Figueres has outperformed the Catalan average in patient experience across most indicators in the latest PLAENSA 2026 survey by the Catalan Health Service (CatSalut), with significant improvements in information clarity, waiting area comfort, and staff communication.
One of the most notable gains is in wait time information: 78.3% of patients said they were informed about expected waiting times, a 28-point increase from the previous year and well above the regional average of 57.8%. This improvement follows the introduction of digital information screens in the Emergency Department, which have enhanced accessibility and transparency for users.
High Marks for Communication and Staff Care
Patient communication scored particularly well. A total of 96.4% found the information provided to be clear and understandable, while 93.5% said they received adequate details about diagnostic tests, both figures exceeding the Catalan average. Patients also praised explanations given at admission and discharge.
The results reflect the effort and dedication of all professionals to offer care increasingly centred on people, improving information, communication, space comfort, and support throughout the care process.
Núria Vergés, Director of Patient and Citizenship Management at Fundació Salut Empordà (FSE), credited the results to staff commitment. “These improvements encourage us to keep working to consolidate our strengths and advance in areas patients tell us still need work,” she said.
Improved Facilities and Ongoing Challenges
All three assessed categories for healthcare spaces, waiting room comfort, conditions of treatment areas, and bed comfort, showed increases of more than 10 points compared to the previous year, surpassing the regional benchmark. The porters’ service received a near-perfect score of 99.2%, matching the highest rating in Catalonia.
Despite high overall satisfaction and trust in the service, the survey identified areas for further improvement, including reducing waiting times before seeing a doctor, strengthening confidentiality during consultations, and continuing to enhance the patient journey.
These findings align with broader trends in Catalonia, where emergency departments continue to face pressure despite progress in primary care satisfaction in 2025. While some coastal hospitals like Blanes reported low scores due to seasonal population surges, Figueres has maintained steady improvement in urgent care user experience.
Primary sources: govern.cat. Reported by emporda.info, Lloret Gaceta, ACN, Guifré Jordan / Laura Fíguls (ACN), lavanguardia.com, Servei Català de la Salut, Albert Diumenjó Segalà, aballiu, europapress.es, 3CatInfo, L'Empordà.
