Ambulatory surgery in Spain

In Spain, ambulatory surgery (AS) is called major ambulatory surgery to emphasise that the focus is on procedures previously or still conducted in an in-patient setting with overnight stay, and that endoscopies and minor surgical excisions are excluded (these procedures were traditionally performed as office procedures). According to the guidelines on major ambulatory surgery produced by the Spanish Health Ministry in 1993, major ambulatory surgery is surgery performed under general, regional, sedation or local anaesthesia requiring neither intensive postoperative care nor overnight stay, the patients being discharged from the facility a few hours after the procedure. Spanish background: • Type of system: national health service (organized in 17 autonomous regions). • Funding: 95% general taxation, 5% social security. • Provision of services: hospitals, speciality doctors, and GPs.