I do not claim to know much about the Spanish health service. I do have some varied experience with the health facilities, though, here in the Balearic islands, and my verdict is one of utter esteem and appreciation.

The largest hospital in the Balearics is the one shown here, the Son Dureta Hospital Universitario with a facility of some 900 beds. The hospital was built in the Fifties and is now deemed out of date. A new, bigger and more modern hospital is currently being constructed, called Son Espases, which will replace Son Dureta upon completion, some time in 2010-11.

A lot of controversy has surrounded the new hospital project, not least for its proximity to the Monastery of La Real, dating from the 13th century. In case you wanted to read more about the Salvem la Real dispute, here is a link to the corresponding website (in Catalàn). 

The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: January 30th, 2008. The time was 14:59:41.