The Balearic Government is still negotiating an agreement to provide between 10 and 12 additional accommodation places at Son Espases Hospital in Mallorca for patients and relatives who must travel from Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca for medical treatment.

Health Minister Manuela García announced the plan during a parliamentary appearance on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, nearly 19 months after Parliament approved a motion calling for accommodation for patients displaced from their home islands to be expanded.

The proposed increase has not yet been implemented. The agreement remains under negotiation, meaning the additional places are not yet available to patients.

Agreement Still Awaiting Signature

García said the regional Health Ministry had examined several options to expand accommodation at Son Espases, including building an annex and adapting additional space within the hospital complex.

The current proposal would add between 10 and 12 places. However, the accommodation is managed through a concession arrangement rather than directly by the hospital, so a specific agreement must be reached before the expansion can proceed.

The minister said the negotiations were progressing and expressed confidence that a solution could be reached before the end of the current legislative term. She also raised the possibility of adding more apartments through one of the organisations already working with the Health Ministry.

The announcement represents progress towards the expansion sought by Parliament, but it is not confirmation of a signed agreement, a completed project or a date when patients will be able to use the additional accommodation.

What Accommodation Is Already Available?

The Health Ministry currently has agreements with three organisations or arrangements covering a total of 164 accommodation places, according to García.

These include:

• 50 places through ASPANOB, the Balearic Association of Parents of Children with Cancer.

• 26 places through ASAMDIB, the Association for Assistance to Displaced Patients in the Balearic Islands.

• 88 places under another agreement, intended mainly for patients who need to travel to Barcelona for treatment.

The 164 places cover different accommodation arrangements and should not be interpreted as 164 additional rooms at Son Espases. The 88-place agreement is primarily intended for people travelling to Barcelona, rather than being exclusively for patients from Ibiza and Formentera receiving treatment in Mallorca.

García also said the ministry had not added new associations because the applicants so far had not met the required criteria concerning the characteristics of their accommodation properties. She indicated that discussions with potential partners were continuing, but did not provide further details.

Can Granada Agreement Has Not Been Renewed

The Health Ministry also considered restoring its former agreement with the Can Granada residence, which provided accommodation for displaced patients until the arrangement ended on 31 December 2019.

García said the agreement had not been revived because the residence, which primarily serves older people, had shown no interest in resuming the collaboration.

The end of that agreement has left the Government looking at other ways to expand the options available to patients and relatives who need to stay in Mallorca while receiving or supporting medical treatment.

Accommodation for Emergency Transfers

The minister said that separate accommodation places are already reserved for patients from the islands who must travel to Mallorca for emergency medical care. The intention is to ensure that they do not have to find somewhere to stay independently after arriving for urgent treatment.

However, García did not disclose how many places are reserved for emergencies or how they are divided among patients from Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca.

She also referred to a reduction of 500 overnight stays at Son Espases, but did not provide a breakdown showing how much of that reduction related specifically to patients from Ibiza and Formentera.

Why Patients Must Still Travel Between Islands

García acknowledged that not every medical transfer between islands can be avoided. Some conditions require specialist treatment or facilities that are not available in a patient's home island.

She said the Government was also working to recruit and retain healthcare professionals and expand services in the other islands to reduce the need for travel where possible.

The minister stressed, however, that transfers between islands would never be eliminated entirely, as certain conditions require treatment in Mallorca, Barcelona or even Madrid according to clinical evidence and specialist requirements.

For patients from Ibiza and Formentera, the availability of suitable accommodation remains an important part of accessing healthcare outside their home island. Patients may need to travel for treatment, while relatives may also require somewhere to stay during hospital admissions.

What Happens Next?

The immediate next step is to conclude the agreement needed to add between 10 and 12 accommodation places at Son Espases. The Government has also indicated that it is exploring the possibility of expanding accommodation through existing partner organisations.

The minister's statement does not establish a confirmed opening date, and the proposed places should not yet be counted as available capacity.

Nearly 19 months after Parliament called for additional accommodation, the latest announcement shows that negotiations are continuing, but the expansion remains pending.

For patients and families from Ibiza and Formentera who must travel to Mallorca for medical care, the key issue will be when the proposed additional places become operational and whether further accommodation can be secured to meet demand.