Health Care, Hospital, Emergencies, Prescriptions

National Health Service (Spain)

A first class service, very comparable to the British NHS and in some aspects quite superior, particularly in regard to access to medical specialists within a very short time frame.
Blood Donors


E111 Replaced by European Health Insurance Card

Overseas health cover with the UK Form E111 ceases as from August 31st 2005

It is replaced by a European Health Insurance Card, to obtain this card you must complete a form EHIC which will be available from British post offices or via the Department of Health.
Emergency or Immediate Health Care Requirement

If you are ill and have not registered with a doctor, or if it is weekend or fiesta time and your usual doctor is not available, go to the nearest Hospital Casualty Department. They are most helpful and you will always see a doctor fairly promptly.
Where necessary doctors do make home calls; but you need to phone or get a friend to call at the surgery.
E106 The E106 is for people who have moved permanently to Spain but have not reached pensionable age, its period of effectiveness depends on the state of your past Nat Ins contributions record. The period of medical cover commences from the date you leave the UK. You must however apply and receive your E106 entitlement form before leaving the UK to ensure you are covered and to know what that cover entitles you to.

E121 Some male expats under pensionable age become eligible for medical cover as dependants on their wife reaching pensionable age. For details contact the above address
Note! If you are coming to live in Spain (even if just visiting but suffer from a particular illness), it is sensible to have a resume of your medical history translated into Spanish, in particular detailing any specific illnesses, drugs required or allergies.
Emergency Police - Fire - Ambulance. Telephone - just dial the number 112.
English Speaking Medical Specialists

Finding a doctor who speaks English in your district is not always easy, although they appear to be more numerous in the Hospital Casualty Service than general practice. Ideally take along a friend with a knowledge of Spanish.

In general as in England, most prescriptions for pensioners are free. However, prescriptions given by a hospital are different. They are in effect, not prescriptions but authority to purchase the medicines/antibiotics that you need, the charges may be reclaimed using the following procedure: Go to a farmacia where you must pay, then when you are able to see your own doctor, take the hospital’s notes to him/her, you will then be given the correct prescription/s. You take these back to the farmacia where you purchased them together with the bill and the labels on the medicines cardboard container, the pharmacist will then give you a refund. You must save the container that medicines or tablets came in, these contain the labels the chemist needs to get paid for the prescription. You may think it long winded but it works.
If you are not covered under the health service you will find that most drugs are far cheaper than in England.
Long Term Prescriptions

If you suffer from a medical problem that needs continuous medication without constant referral to the Doctor you can ask him for an authorisation form which you then take to the Local Health Authority Inspectors' office. In Gandia this is situated at the rear corner of the main Hospital in Avenida Germanias, and is clearly marked "Inspectorate" outside the building. This is the same office you go to for authorisation of special drugs requested for you by your doctor. In Gandia I found them most efficient, helpful and with a good understanding of English.
Medical Registration


It is advisable to register as early as possible. To do this you must have first registered with the police and obtained your NIE number.
Always have photocopies of your passport, marriage licence and of any original documents given to you by the various departments you visit.

If you are admitted to hospital, the services provided include surgery, nursing care and catering. Pyjamas or nightdress are hospital issue.
In the main Gandia Hospital you are expected to provide a dressing gown, toiletries, slippers, reading and writing materials. Only take a small amount of cash and a telephone card. Do not take jewellery, valuables or credit cards.
My family's own experience of the Spanish health service has been of exemplary quality of service and equipment. My wife had a seriously broken ankle which then developed Septicaemia. She had over 4 weeks in Gandia hospital incurring two operations.
The care and attention could not have been better. However you are expected to assist with the general nursing by being frequently in attendance, particularly immediately after an operation, or where the patient is confined to bed or is frail or confused. An excellent fully reclining comfortable armchair, pillow and blanket are provided if you are needed to be in attendance overnight.

Dentists

These are private practices. Many will offer you a free first visit to give you an estimate of the work required and the anticipated cost. We find the services excellent and the costs moderate.


...............dave..