Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau is a high complexity hospital which dates back six centuries, making it the oldest hospital in Spain. Healthcare is centred on Barcelona but extends to the rest of Catalonia. The centre plays a prominent role in Spain and is internationally renowned.

The hospital has distinguished itself in the healthcare provided in many fields, making it a reference centre in several specialities. The centre attends over 34,000 admissions each year and more than 150,000 emergencies. Approximately 300,000 people are visited at the ambulatory services annually and the Day Hospital attends over 60,000 users. There are 71 day hospital beds, 634 hospitalisation beds and 19 surgical rooms.

Teaching and training programmes at the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau cover many levels, comprising the UAB (Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona) Faculty of Medicine Teaching Unit, the University School of Nursing, participation in the State Residency Programmes to train specialists, masters and doctorate course, continuing education, etc.

In the field of research, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau is one of the most prominent centres in Spain, as can be appreciated from the volume of papers published and their input factor, the number and quality of projects which receive funding and the grants awarded.

The Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau is governed by the Patronat de la Fundació de Gestió Sanitària (FGSHSCSP), a board with representatives from the Regional Catalan Government (Generalitat de Catalunya), the City Hall of Barcelona and the Archbishopric of Barcelona.