Two assaults in ten days at the Virgen del Rocío Hospital reignite the debate on healthcare violence. A doctor reports that insults and threats have become normalised and that fear of reprisals prevents reporting.
A doctor from the Emergency Department of Virgen del Rocío Hospital has broken her silence to denounce the situation faced daily by healthcare professionals. In statements to this newspaper, and speaking anonymously for fear of reprisals, she claims that insults, banging on the table, and threats have become part of the daily routine. "We are normalising what should never be normal," she laments.
Two violent episodes in ten days
The first incident occurred on July 6, when a security guard was injured after being assaulted by relatives of a patient. The second, on July 15, involved a doctor who suffered verbal abuse and intimidation while attending to a patient. The hospital condemned the events on social media and activated the Prevention and Response Plan for Assaults of the Andalusian Health Service, which includes medical assistance, legal support, and psychological care for those affected.
However, the interviewed doctor believes these measures do not address the underlying problem. "We are left vulnerable. We have been dealing with numerous assaults for months and we can’t take it anymore," she states. According to her account, the incidents that come to light are just the tip of the iceberg: "Insults are now part of the job. The banging on doors, the pounding on tables, the shouting, the threats... We are normalising all of this. And that is precisely the problem."
Nearly two assaults daily in the province
Official figures support this perception. According to data from the Andalusian Health Service, during 2025 the province of Seville recorded 569 assaults on healthcare professionals, of which 107 were physical and 462 non-physical. This averages nearly two incidents per day, a figure that has remained stable in recent years, around 600 annually. Across Andalusia, there were 1,976 assaults, almost half of which occurred in hospitals, where patient pressure, long waits, and care for patients with various conditions converge.
Unions warn that violence has ceased to be exceptional and has become a structural problem. The doctor from Virgen del Rocío agrees: "A few years ago, a situation like this would have completely halted a service. Today, it barely disrupts the workflow. Hearing a colleague being insulted in the next consultation has become a daily occurrence. We continue to attend to patients as if nothing has happened because there is no other choice."
Safety demands: a door that hasn’t arrived
One of the main demands from professionals is the installation of a control door separating the waiting area from the consultation zone. According to the doctor, they have been requesting this filter for over a year to prevent outsiders from entering the work area. "We do not feel safe. Anyone can enter and assault you without anyone stopping them," she reports.
The hospital, for its part, asserts that it maintains a firm commitment against violence and reminds that the prevention plan is operational. However, workers consider the current measures insufficient. "What scares me the most is not going back to work. It’s that those who assaulted me might know that I am the one speaking out," confesses the doctor, who prefers to remain anonymous to protect her safety.
The situation at Virgen del Rocío is not an isolated case. Other hospitals in the province, such as Valme or Macarena, have also reported similar incidents in recent months. Unions demand more stringent measures, such as the presence of security guards on all floors and the installation of alarm systems in consultations. For now, professionals continue to attend to patients with the uncertainty of not knowing if the next assault will be directed at them.
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