Residents believe Ronda de Boltaña in Parque Goya offers the “best conditions” for building the new hospital compared with the other three alternatives. The association has supported this option for years, highlighting its “publicly owned land, good transport connections, including its proximity to the tram stop, and integration into an urban environment with services.”
They specifically point out that these features offer opportunities to facilitate access for patients, professionals and companions, optimize public investment and promote the future development of the hospital surroundings. The Association also recalls that the decision on the location must be based on “objective and transparent” criteria, taking into account the present and future needs of the population served by Sector I.
The Government of Aragon will announce its decision on the location of the future Royo Villanova Hospital next October 22.
SCHEDULE AND TRANSPARENCY
Following the announcement, the association is calling for it to be accompanied by an explanation of the criteria used and how the different alternatives were compared. It also wants details of the planned project, its main features and the development schedule: what steps remain, when construction is expected to begin and end and, especially, when the new hospital will be able to start operating.
The Association is also calling for clarification on how the current Royo Villanova Hospital will be used once the new facility opens. Options it considers worth studying include geriatric care resources and other social and healthcare services that could respond to the needs of an increasingly ageing population.
The Association also maintains that management of the new hospital should remain public and that, while the project is being developed, the resources needed to properly serve the population at the current hospital should be maintained and strengthened.
SHORTCOMINGS IN PUBLIC HEALTHCARE
During the meeting, attendees also focused on problems in public healthcare, particularly waiting lists, the shortage of specialists and insufficient resources at Royo Villanova Hospital. According to the testimonies shared, waits can reach 18 months for a first Psychology appointment and 12 months for certain specialist consultations.
They also regretted that the facility still does not have robotic surgery, unlike other hospitals in Zaragoza. In response to this situation, the Association considers it necessary to address current shortcomings while continuing to plan the future hospital. It has announced that it will conduct a survey among residents to learn about their main concerns and proposals for improvement. The results will be used to prepare a meeting with the Aragon Government’s health minister and convey the neighborhood’s demands.
