Bellvitge University Hospital in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat has received dual accreditation from the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, placing it among the top three hospitals in Catalonia for respiratory care excellence.

The Intermediate Respiratory Care Unit, which treats over 250 patients annually with severe respiratory failure, achieved the highest category of recognition as a specialised unit of excellence in its first application. This unit bridges the gap between conventional wards and intensive care, serving patients who require more support than a standard ward can offer but do not need ICU admission.

Mercè Gasa, head of Hospitalization Coordination for the Pulmonology Department, described these patients as an increasingly common profile in respiratory care. "An increasingly common profile of respiratory patients," Gasa said, highlighting the unit’s role in managing complex cases that fall between standard and critical care levels.

High-Complexity Recognition for Pulmonary Function Lab

The hospital’s Pulmonary Function Laboratory also earned accreditation as a high-complexity unit, the second highest level in the national system. It conducts more than 19,000 annual tests for diagnosing, characterising, and monitoring respiratory conditions.

Salud Santos, head of the Pulmonology Department, stated that the dual accreditations reflect the department’s sustained commitment to quality. "Each patient receives safe, coordinated, and adapted respiratory care to their level of complexity," she said.

  • Over 19,000 pulmonary function tests performed annually
  • Unit serves L’Hospitalet and the wider southern metropolitan area
  • Part of Campus Salut Bellvitge, recognised by the European Organisation of Cancer Institutes
"The recognition obtained by the intermediate unit highlights the solidity of the project and the involvement of the entire team."

The hospital serves 2 million people across the southern axis of Catalonia and performs the most complex oncological surgeries in Catalonia. It is integrated within the Campus Salut Bellvitge, recognised by the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) as a Comprehensive Cancer Centre.

Further information on respiratory services is available via IDIBELL.

Primary sources: inventariarxiu.l-h.cat. Reported by apdnoticies.com, idibell.cat, thelocal.es, hospitalgermanstrias.cat.