Formentera Hospital Suspends Scheduled Operations Again After Fresh Rainwater Leaks

06 November 2026 г.

The Hospital de Formentera has suspended scheduled surgical operations again after rain caused further water leaks in its operating-theatre area, just one day after the hospital announced that planned surgery could resume.

The latest suspension was introduced on Thursday, 5 November 2026, following renewed water ingress during rainfall on Wednesday. The Health Area of Ibiza and Formentera confirmed that the operating theatre would remain available for urgent and emergency procedures and childbirths, while non-urgent scheduled operations were put on hold as a precaution.

The decision has renewed concerns about the hospital's recurring problems with water infiltration and the effectiveness of previous repair work. On Friday, 6 November, the Balearic Health Minister, Manuela García, announced that the regional ministry would bring forward a comprehensive refurbishment of the operating area through an emergency procurement procedure.

Scheduled Surgery Suspended Again One Day After Reopening

The latest disruption came shortly after the hospital had restored its scheduled surgical activity on Wednesday, 4 November.

Planned operations had been suspended since 19 October, when heavy rainfall caused problems around the exterior of the surgical area. The hospital maintained urgent surgical activity, but non-urgent procedures were postponed while cleaning, disinfection and safety checks were carried out.

The decision to reopen followed microbiological testing of samples collected on 23 October. According to the Health Area, the laboratory results and recommendations from the Preventive Medicine Service at Son Espases University Hospital allowed scheduled operations to resume.

However, the improvement lasted only one day.

Following further rainfall on Wednesday, water entered the surgical area again. The Health Area consequently reinstated the temporary restriction, keeping the operating theatre available exclusively for urgent and emergency interventions and childbirths.

Health officials said the measure was based on precautionary and patient-safety considerations. Technical teams are working to identify the precise point through which water is entering the building and determine what repairs are needed.

Recurring Water Infiltration Problems

The latest incident is part of a longer history of problems affecting the hospital's surgical facilities.

The area has experienced repeated disruptions associated with water infiltration and, on previous occasions, concerns about environmental microbiological conditions.

The October 2026 rainfall episode led to another suspension of scheduled surgery. Earlier reporting by IB3 on 3 November stated that nine non-urgent operations had been postponed during the preceding two weeks.

The Health Area also reported that more than 200 improvement measures had been carried out in the surgical block since the earlier major rainfall episode. These included work intended to strengthen the facilities and prevent water from entering during severe weather.

Nevertheless, the latest leaks have demonstrated that previous corrective work has not prevented water from entering the area during subsequent rainfall.

A further complication is that the water has reportedly entered through points different from those addressed in earlier repairs. This makes identifying the source of the latest infiltration an important part of the work now under way.

Balearic Health Ministry Announces Emergency Refurbishment

On Friday, 6 November, Balearic Health Minister Manuela García announced that the regional Health Ministry would accelerate a comprehensive refurbishment of the hospital's surgical area.

Speaking after the meeting of the Balearic Government's Council of Ministers, García said the reform had already been planned but would now be brought forward through an emergency contract procedure.

She explained that the ministry wanted to avoid a situation in which scheduled surgical activity had to be repeatedly opened and suspended whenever heavy rain affected the facilities.

The minister acknowledged that maintenance and reinforcement work had already been carried out around the upper section of the roof, together with insulation and disinfection measures. However, subsequent rainfall had again affected the operating area.

The planned comprehensive refurbishment is intended to address the underlying problems more effectively.

The announcement represents a move beyond the immediate response of locating and repairing the latest leak. However, as of 6 November, the available information does not establish that the emergency contract has already been awarded or that the refurbishment works have begun. No confirmed completion date has been announced.

García also reiterated that the operating theatre remains available for urgent procedures and childbirths while the restrictions on scheduled operations continue.

Nine Non-Urgent Operations Had Already Been Postponed

The earlier suspension of scheduled surgery had affected patients waiting for non-urgent procedures.

IB3 reported on 3 November that nine non-urgent operations had been postponed over the preceding two weeks. One patient interviewed by the broadcaster described having an operation postponed for a second time.

When scheduled activity resumed on 4 November, the Health Area said those nine postponed procedures would be reprogrammed in the following days.

The renewed suspension on 5 November created a further interruption. However, a confirmed number of additional operations postponed specifically because of this latest incident had not been published in the reports available by 6 November.

It is therefore not possible to establish the total number of patients affected by both periods of suspension from the available information.

Urgent Operations and Childbirths Continue

Despite the suspension of planned procedures, the hospital has not closed its operating theatre.

The Health Area confirmed that urgent and emergency surgical interventions and childbirths continue to be attended to at the facility.

The distinction is important: the restrictions apply to scheduled surgery, rather than a complete suspension of all surgical and maternity services.

The priority, according to the health authorities, is to ensure that planned procedures can take place under appropriate safety conditions.

A Structural Solution Still Needed

The repeated interruptions at the Hospital de Formentera highlight the difficulties of maintaining normal surgical activity when rainfall exposes weaknesses in the building's facilities.

The latest reopening, based on favourable microbiological results, was followed almost immediately by another suspension after fresh water entered the area. The subsequent announcement of an emergency refurbishment suggests that the regional Health Ministry now intends to accelerate a more comprehensive solution rather than rely solely on further localised repairs.

For patients on the island, the immediate concern remains when scheduled operations can safely resume. As of 6 November 2026, no reopening date had been confirmed.

The operating theatre continues to serve urgent and emergency cases and childbirths, while the authorities work to identify the source of the latest leaks and advance the planned refurbishment.

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