Emergency healthcare

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Nov 18th 2009, 2:53 pm

Paramedic

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Emergency healthcare

Can anyone assist me with this? I currently work as a Paramedic in England and was wondering what the state of play is with emergency healthcare (in particular ambulances) for expats in Spain?
Does anyone have any good / bad stories or is there a general perception of it?

Nov 18th 2009, 2:57 pm

Mitzyboy

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Re: Emergency healthcare

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paramedic

Theres a good and a bad side, from what I've seen.

Stories of ambulances taking a long time to get to an incident. Villages paying into a pot to make sure they get a timely ambulance in the case of need, and ambulances arriving quickly.

Never needed the service thankfully, but as I understand it the drivers / attendants are not paramedics and are normally just there to load you in and get you to a hospital.

Anyone know if thats changed?

Nov 18th 2009, 3:10 pm

chulo

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Re: Emergency healthcare

I thought Spanish Healthcare was at least on par with the UK.

When I`ve watched 112 Heroes en la calle they seem pretty good, especially in Madrid.

You can watch them here, I guess you can then compare situations.Ambulance bit starts at 2.20 minutes into vid.

Last edited by chulo; Nov 18th 2009 at 3:27 pm.

Nov 18th 2009, 3:44 pm

mikelincs

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Re: Emergency healthcare

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitzyboy

I believe here are two types, the TNA are Transporte no assist, and the others are paramedic ambulances, some even carry medically qualified staff.

Nov 18th 2009, 4:14 pm

Mitzyboy

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Re: Emergency healthcare

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikelincs

I believe here are two types, the TNA are Transporte no assist, and the others are paramedic ambulances, some even carry medically qualified staff.

Is that just in the main cities, or in the campo as well?

Nov 18th 2009, 4:18 pm

mikelincs

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Re: Emergency healthcare

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitzyboy

Is that just in the main cities, or in the campo as well?

No idea, there were always plenty about on and around the N332 in Torrevieja area, and in Albir as well.

Nov 18th 2009, 5:14 pm

Chiclanagir

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Re: Emergency healthcare

Locallly to where I live a lady phoned the ambulance after her husband collapsed. She speaks excellent Spanish and she gave them directions (Campo) but it took several calls before they arrived and then they had no paramedic with them.

Nov 18th 2009, 6:08 pm

Fred James

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Re: Emergency healthcare

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikelincs

I believe here are two types, the TNA are Transporte no assist, and the others are paramedic ambulances, some even carry medically qualified staff.

Yes I have heard that.

It also explains why, in some motor accident cases, the body is left at the scene of the accident as the doctor on board has certified death so other facilities can collect the body rather than fill up an ambulance.

Nov 18th 2009, 6:45 pm

Rosemary

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Re: Emergency healthcare

Around here we have TNA which is transport no assist and SUV (or something like that) which is manned by three people - a doctor, paramedic/driver and a nurse or second parmedic or second doctor.

Rosemary