Briefing
The Hospital Universitario de Getafe has received an award at the eighth edition of the Best Spanish Hospitals Awards in Madrid for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The award, organised by the consultancy Higia Benchmarking, was presented at the awards ceremony on 7 and 8 October 2026 and recognises the hospital’s care provision for complex EPOC cases. According to official statements, the specialist Unidad de EPOC treated almost 400 patients requiring more intensive care last year.
For severe exacerbations, Getafe has a Unidad de Cuidados Intermedios (UCRI) available; treatment is provided by an interdisciplinary team of pulmonologists, specialist nurses, rehabilitation doctors and respiratory physiotherapists. After inpatient treatment, specialist outpatient clinics for sleep medicine and non-invasive home ventilation, as well as services for bronchiectasis and palliative care and a respiratory rehabilitation programme, ensure continuity of care. The hospital cites these elements as reasons for shorter stays, lower mortality and a reduced risk of readmission in its published accounts.
In addition to winning in the EPOC category, the hospital was also a finalist in the Área Materno-Infantil category. There, midwives and gynaecologists emphasise respectful support during birth with as little intervention as possible, alongside services such as a 24-hour telephone line for breastfeeding support, discharge advice and guided visits to the Maternidad.
According to the organisers, the BSH Awards are based on the assessment of thousands of indicators covering efficiency, appropriateness and quality; this year, more than 5,000 indicators from over 100 hospitals were reviewed across several clinical areas. In April 2026, Hospital Universitario de Getafe also received the Sello EFQM 600, an internationally recognised management certificate documenting organisational quality and a commitment to continuous improvement. The organisers did not publish complete, comparable figures for mortality, readmission risk or length of stay; robust outcome comparisons therefore require more extensive, transparent datasets.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).