The Official College of Nursing of Seville (ICOES) warns that the province needs to incorporate 2,000 nurses to reach the national average. Its president, Víctor Bohórquez, states that many professionals trained in Seville emigrate to other regions.
The Official College of Nursing of Seville (ICOES) has presented a figure that highlights the deficit of professionals in the province: 2,000 more nurses are needed to match the national average. This was pointed out by its president, Víctor Bohórquez, who has reviewed his five years at the helm of the institution and announced his intention to run for re-election.
Bohórquez, who worked for 18 years as a paediatric nurse in the Neonatal Unit of Valme University Hospital before presiding over ICOES, has highlighted that nursing in Seville has gained visibility in recent years, but there is still a long way to go. “Nurses trained here are going to Madrid or Navarra,” he lamented, referring to the talent drain towards regions with better working conditions.
The president of ICOES emphasised that nursing is “an essential pillar and a backbone of the healthcare system,” and defended that the profession needs greater recognition of its research, care, management, and innovative capabilities. To this end, the College has promoted during his term the comprehensive renewal of its headquarters, the organisation of conferences and congresses, and the establishment of a pioneering simulation room in Spain among nursing colleges.
One of the most notable achievements of his management team has been the statutory reform, already approved, that has democratized the institution. Among the new rules are the limit of two consecutive terms for the same representative, the creation of an independent electoral board, and the implementation of remote voting to facilitate participation in electoral processes.
Bohórquez has also highlighted the importance of alliances with other entities to give greater visibility to nursing in Seville. As an example, he cited the agreement signed between the Andalusian Health Service (SAS) and the Andalusian Nursing Council, which consolidates a line of joint work and recognises the role of professionals in designing new health measures.
However, the president of ICOES has pointed out that there are pending issues, such as the non-inclusion of professional colleges in sectoral tables, where the working conditions of public healthcare staff are negotiated. “Professional colleges perform an independent representation role, without links to other entities, which allows us to convey the profession's demands,” he explained.
The deficit of 2,000 nurses in Seville directly affects the quality of care that citizens receive. With a ratio lower than the national average, professionals face a greater workload and a reduced capacity to attend to patients with the dedication they deserve. Bohórquez has insisted that the solution lies in improving working conditions and retaining the talent trained in the province.
Looking to the future, the president of ICOES has confirmed that he will run for re-election to continue for another five years at the head of the institution. His goal is to continue modernising the College and strengthen the presence of nursing in Seville at the regional and national levels. The next electoral date is expected to take place in the coming months, although a specific date has not yet been set.
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