THE family of a woman, 69, who spent 36 hours in a Valencia hospital ER waiting for a bed and died of acute pancreatitis has been awarded €225,000 in compensation.

The patient went in May 2025 to the Valencia General Hospital and was not seen by anybody following an initial assessment.

The payout has come from the Valencian Ministry of Health after a complaint was filed on behalf of the family by rights group- the Association El Defensor del Paciente.

VALENCIA GENERAL HOSPITAL

The organisation said she was examined on arrival and given several tests, including an abdominal ultrasound, after which she was diagnosed with acute biliary pancreatitis.

Doctors wanted to admit her, but a lack of beds meant she was left in the ER.

She arrived at the hospital at 00.12 hours but died at 7.32am the next day with no follow-up examinations.

The rights group claimed no further tests or monitoring were carried out after her initial examination.

The Association El Defensor del Paciente said it was an avoidable death and blamed serious neglect in the ER while the woman was waiting for a bed.

Acute pancreatitis requires close monitoring and intensive treatment because of the risk of rapid and life-threatening complications.

The complaint said that monitoring did not take place and a lack of attention meant the patient did not get vital and prompt treatment.

“It is in no way acceptable that the patient remained for a day and a half in an emergency room without any doctor, nurse or health worker of any kind even approaching this patient,” they stated.

In January 2025, the Satse nursing union warned about an ‘endemic deficit’ of beds at the Valencia General Hospital.

A statement at the time talked of ‘waits of up two hours to pass through triage with up to 59 people waiting to be seen’ in what it regarded as a ‘collapse’ of the ER.
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HOUSE prices have soared by 18.3% in Alicante province in the first three months of 2026 compared to a year earlier.

Figures from property appraisal company Tinsa said the average price stands at €1,877 per m2 but numbers ares even higher in popular tourist areas.

Benidorm reached €2,786 per m2- a hike of 20.5% over 12 months and up by 2.7% on the previous quarter.

BIG DEMAND ON ORIHUELA COSTA

Other big rises include Orihuela, where the average price is €1,986 per m2(up 15.4% over a year); Alicante City on €1,980 per m2(up 16.1%) and Torrevieja with €1,859 per m2(up 15%).

The 18.3% year-on-year growth puts Alicante province above the national average of 14.3%, with a median price of €1,987 per m2.

The province is fourth in the national league table of price hikes behind Toledo (+23.2%), Albacete (+19.6%), and Madrid (+19.2%), while it is ahead of areas like Barcelona (+11%).

The year started with a rise in residential developments in Alicante province coupled with strong demand on the coast resulting a sustained increase in property prices.

HOUSE PRICES SOAR(Pixabay image)

Approval for new construction rose in January by 18.3% with the bulk of properties for residential use.

A lack of availability of housing stock and much higher prices saw home sales actually fall at the beginning of the year.

Alicante province registered 4,309 sales- down by 7.7% over 12 months- with a significant 20.9% sales fall for new properties.

Overall in 2025, housing stock dropped in the region by 5%.
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