Residents of Usurbil will mobilize on Thursday in San Sebastián to address the "gravity" of the pediatric service situation in this Gipuzkoa town, which has suffered "notable deterioration in recent years," and to demand it be made "dignified." Families from Usurbil have also announced they will go to the Ararteko (Basque Ombudsman) to denounce this "unresolved problem" since the pediatric consultation at the Usurbil health center closed in April 2025.
"From that month until September, the only response we received was that there was no pediatrician and they didn't know when the service would be restored," they criticized. Following the presentation of a motion in the municipal plenary session, the service was reinstated but with limitations, consolidating a service cutback.
In the past year, from April 1, 2025, the presence of a qualified professional has been guaranteed on only 98 out of 261 working days (37%), and not always for a full day. On days without service, the alternatives have been to go to the Lasarte-Oria health center or emergency services. Currently, Usurbil has 663 minors between 0 and 14 years old entitled to pediatric care, but the service remains unstable due to staff shortages and organizational issues.
“"The service remains unstable: the lack of professionals, the high turnover among the few existing ones, and organizational problems directly affect the care our children receive."
Thursday's mobilization will take place at six in the evening at the entrance of Donostia Hospital, in San Sebastián.
