Ibiza’s Public Ambulance Service Strained By Nightclub Emergencies

Ibiza’s public ambulance service is reportedly at a breaking point, with staff stretched thin by a high volume of emergency calls originating from the island’s bustling nightclubs. The Union of Healthcare Technicians (USAE) Works Council has issued a stark warning, stating that the local emergency healthcare system faces a “collapse” due to the overwhelming and often complex incidents requiring ambulance response at these venues.

The numbers accrue to an alarming 15 ambulance emergency calls daily in Ibiza alone, with approximately five of these directly linked to clubs.

Healthcare workers, described as being at their “wits’ end“, are struggling to keep up with the demand. The USAE estimates that ambulance technicians logged around 2,400 hours of overtime in June alone, a significant burden on the public system. This strain is particularly highlighted when considering the sheer volume of visitors to the island, which fell just shy of four million in 2024.

The union is now urgently calling on Ibiza’s major nightclubs to contract private ambulance companies. USAE president José Manuel Maroto emphasized the financial disparity, stating, “It’s inconceivable that companies that earn billions of euros a year can’t afford this service and overwhelm emergency services, depriving citizens of services“.

Currently, DC-10 is reportedly the only club on the island that maintains a contract with a private ambulance company. This ongoing issue contributes to the broader concerns among Ibiza residents, who have been protesting overtourism for years. Officials have responded with measures like cracking down on short-term rentals and increasing fines, even citing environmental protection as a reason to discourage large music events.

*Cover image credit: Vicent Marí

[H/T] DJ Mag