Spain's top hospitals are in Madrid and Barcelona, says annual ratings index

HOSPITALS in Madrid and Barcelona have been named the best in Spain for certain specialist areas of healthcare for the second year running.

The Hospital Excellency Index 2016 (IEH 2016), drawn up by the Coordinated Institute of Government Policy and Applied Economics, names Madrid's La Paz University Hospital as one of the top three in the country in six of its 10 specialist consultation and treatment areas.

Valencia's La Fe Hospital (pictured) and Sevilla's Virgen del Rocío Hospital also got into the top three for specific branches of healthcare, and Barcelona's Vall d'Hebrón Hospital was number one for oncology and cardiology.

“Although Madrid and Barcelona get the best ratings, the general perception of healthcare is very positive throughout the country, says Jesús Sánchez Lambás, deputy chairman of the Institute and IEH 2016 project manager.

After the Vall d'Hebrón, the best hospitals for cancer treatment and diagnosis are the Jiménez Díaz Foundation and the Quirón Hospital in Madrid, whilst for cardiology, second to the Vall d'Hebrón came La Fe in Valencia and the Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid.

The Jiménez Díaz Foundation was top in gynaecology, followed by La Paz in Madrid and the Deux University Hospital in Barcelona, whilst the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona got the best rating for neurology, followed by the Vall d'Hebrón and, once again, the San Carlos Clinical Hospital in Madrid.

For psychiatry, the capital's 12 de Octubre Hospital was rated the best, followed by the Virgen del Rocío in Sevilla and the Gregorio Marañón in Madrid – all of which are State-run hospitals rather than private centres.

The Quirón Dexeus in Barcelona was best for traumatology, ahead of La Paz, which knocked La Fe into third position for 2016, and La Paz also came out top for paediatric care, followed by the Niño de Jesús Hospital, also in Madrid, and the Sant Joan de Déu in Barcelona.

Once again, La Paz was ranked number one for rheumatology, ahead of Barcelona's Hospital Clínic and Madrid's Gregorio Marañón, whilst the Hospital Clínic moved up to the top spot for pneumology, beating the Vall d'Hebrón and La Paz.

Finally, La Paz won again for dermatology, followed by the Hospital Clínic in Barcelona and the Ramón y Cajal Hospital in Madrid.