Generalitat invests 1.27m euro to protect Vega Baja Hospital from flooding

The Generalitat is carrying out flood protection works at the Vega Baja District Hospital, located in San Bartolomé within the municipal area of Orihuela, with an investment of €1,273,356. The action aims to reduce the risk of water accumulation in the hospital surroundings during episodes of heavy rainfall.

The regional Minister for Agriculture, Water, Livestock and Fisheries, Miguel Barrachina, visited the works during their development and emphasised the importance of acting on essential infrastructure to guarantee its security and operation in the face of adverse meteorological phenomena.

According to Barrachina, the intervention will improve the hospital’s response capacity during heavy downpours and reinforce the protection of a fundamental infrastructure for healthcare delivery in the Vega Baja.

A drainage system to manage rainwater

The project includes the implementation of a Sustainable Urban Drainage System, which incorporates a lamination basin next to the hospital. This facility will allow the temporary storage of excess rainwater and facilitate its controlled evacuation.

The solution is designed to manage the flows generated during episodes of intense precipitation and reduce pressure on the surroundings of the medical centre, thereby improving its protection against potential flooding.

A reference hospital for more than 183,000 inhabitants

The Vega Baja District Hospital provides service to more than 183,000 inhabitants across 18 municipalities in the health department of Orihuela and counts a staff exceeding 2,000 professionals.

The vulnerability of the hospital environment became evident during the torrential rains of September 2019, which affected facilities within the centre and hampered access via the CV-91 road.

Given this background, the works intend to improve the protection conditions of the facilities and help preserve the continuity of an essential healthcare service for the population of the region.

The minister underscored the importance of prevention and hydraulic planning to reduce the vulnerability of public facilities in the face of extreme weather events.

With this action, the Generalitat seeks to advance in improving the defence and drainage infrastructure of the Vega Baja, with special attention given to safeguarding essential services and adapting the territory against flood risks.