Health Care in Spain
Hospitals
The Spanish health-care system is (arguably) better than that in the UK. Hospitals are modern and well-equipped, and the staff are excellent. There are a few differences between the British and Spanish health systems, but overall they are very similar.
The biggest difference is the level of nursing care available in Spain. While Spanish nurses are well-trained and efficient, they simply do not perform many of the duties carried out by British nurses, and many tasks (particularly personal care and feeding) are expected to be carried out by the patient's family instead. All hospitals allow one companion to be with the patient 24 hours a day.
Homecare
Furthermore, there are no 'District Nurses' or Health visitors in Spain so caring for patients at home or on discharge from hospital is again the responsibility of the patients family.
Almería Angels are ideally suited to assist with these time consuming, and often difficult to manage, duties of the family.
Medicines
Many medicines that are prescription only in the UK are available over the counter in chemist's shops in Spain, including Asthma inhalers and antibiotics. If you are registered for free healthcare under Spanish social security, you can get medicines you need on prescription for a 60% discount, or for nothing if you are a pensioner.
This liberalisation of medication availability brings with it its own problems. It is so easy to let your medication get 'out of control'. Advice on medication can be made available through Almería Angels to help you in your decisions.
Health Insurance
The new European Health Insurance card (EHIC), which replaces the old E111, is intended for short visits to another EC country (on holiday for example).
An EHIC will cover you for emergency healthcare treatment in Spain. It will not cover you for most types of non-urgent treatment such as treatment for ongoing conditions, full maternity care or vaccinations and you should not rely on it if you are living in Spain.
If you are planning to retire to Spain you should apply to the Department for Work and Pensions who will advise and issue forms to entitle you to healthcare treatment for a varying period. These forms should be taken to the Spanish 'Seguridad Social' for registration. This process can take some time, so be sure to get your EHIC card for temporary cover anyway.
Private health insurance is widely available but do read your policy carefully as you may find some things you will need are excluded. Some policies only cover you for emergency treatment in the home and/or an ambulance to the local hospital for example and you may find that you have to pay for the hospital treatment after you have received it.
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