L'Hospitalet de Llobregat's Guardia Urbana ambulance, affectionately known as 'La India', has completed its final service, ending over 40 years of emergency assistance in Catalonia's second-largest city. The closure follows the economic collapse of the service's contractor, Consorci de Transport Sanitari de Girona (CTSG), despite four months of unpaid work by employees to keep it running.
Workers had warned in March that their commitment could not continue without financial support, according to local reports. The ambulance had faced similar threats of suspension two years ago, which were resolved by a new tender won by CTSG. This time, however, the outcome is permanent.
Council Cites Legal Constraints
First Deputy Mayor Jesús Husillos stated in March that an emergency tender was not an option for the local executive. He explained that legal frameworks do not permit such an alternative contract. "Legality does not enable us. I understand their concerns, but legally this possibility is not viable, according to our legal services and the council's contracting team," Husillos said.
Husillos now confirms that CTSG is in receivership, and the judicial administrator's criterion is to liquidate the company because it is "not viable." The council will collaborate within legal limits to address the critical situation of the workers, but insists on the impossibility of re-tendering the ambulance contract.
One key reason, Husillos explained, is that the existing contract, despite its problems, remains active. Another is a legal matter concerning the Sistema d'Emergències Mèdiques (SEM), which holds the national competency for urgent healthcare assistance and did not want the Guardia Urbana ambulance to operate.
SEM Assumes Full Responsibility
Husillos defended the municipal position, noting that two years ago, three reports had to be submitted to the Generalitat to justify the absence of incompatibilities for the then-current tender. At that time, SEM recognised an under-provision of ambulance services in L'Hospitalet, with reinforcements not expected until spring-summer 2026, which is now.
"What did we do? We took advantage of this margin and told them, 'if you recognise an under-provision according to your protection, let us maintain the service until, at least, that full provision of services,'" Husillos recounted. He now states that SEM has communicated its readiness to expand its services and assume the projected number of ambulances. "The competent authority does not authorise this council to issue another tender," he concluded.
Municipal sources emphasised that ambulance services in the city are "absolutely guaranteed." They noted that SEM already operates nine ambulances in L'Hospitalet, a number set to increase to 11 by June.
Opposition and Worker Concerns
Workers, however, have consistently maintained that their service was essential. "If we weren't essential, from April to December last year we wouldn't have performed more than 1,900 services, plus just over 300 this year," a technician told reporters in March.
Municipal sources clarified that an immediate emergency contract can only be made when there is "a real, immediate, and serious risk that prevents processing any other procedure." They argue that there is no service interruption, no catastrophic situation or care collapse, and an existing public alternative in SEM.
Opposition parties ERC, PP, and Comuns held a joint press conference on 24 April to condemn the service's disappearance and demand urgent measures from the local executive to reinstate 'La India'. "The PSC justifies the disappearance of La India by hiding behind the incorporation of new SEM vehicles, without considering that these will not provide exclusive service to the city, as the Guardia Urbana ambulance did: an evident cut in services to citizens," warned PP spokesperson Sonia Esplugas.
Employees of 'La India' are now hopeful of being hired by the healthcare transport company Falck, which managed the Guardia Urbana ambulance before CTSG. Jordi García, one of the technicians, explained that discussions with unions are underway, and Falck has expressed interest ahead of SEM's new ambulance contract coming into force in June. Details of the proposal are still unknown. "We are tired. We have fought all we could. Now what we want is for this to end as soon as possible," García said.
