on visiting the Anaesthethist at the local hospital we were told that we shouldn't be there without an interpreter and this should be provided by the local GP's practice at our local Central Salud.

anyone any information on this please ??

In my area if you need an interpreter it is up to you to find one and pay them but I understand that in some places this is different.

Rosemary

it's definitely different in different areas

at my centro de salud you'd need to take a private interpreter, but at teh hospital there is just about always a free one available on the wards & in urgencias, but you need a private one for outpatients appointments

I suppose that it may also be down to how geared up an area is regarding expats.

Rosemary

In my heavily populated expat area interpreters are now big business, sadly. Many doctors and consultants insist on their British patients coming with an interpreter, which is understandable in serious cases where there shouldn't be any room for mistakes when a condition is life threatening.

There is an ample choice of interpreters for patients, with an accompanying ample choice of translating skills, some of which are woeful.

The average charges appear to be 20 Euros an hour and I know of many expats who have had to go home when they could no longer afford to pay them.

In more charitable times some interpreters offered their services for free on occasions, but those times are long gone.

yes - 20€ an hour which includes travelling & waiting time!

I've sat in the waiting area of outpatients at our hospital & heard the appalling Spanish of some of these 'interpreters' - their basic skills are often poor, so how they manage with the medical stuff is anyone's guess

I'm often asked to accompany people to the hospital, or translate medical records - I always refuse

in my opinion only someone who has specifically studied to be a medical translator should do this

Most hospitals have interpreters who work as volunteers and as such their Spanish is very good. Inquire at the hospital you are going if they have interpreters available. If they do the anesthetist will ask one to join you. You dont say where you are and what hospital you are going to.

The CDS hospital in Marbella has a large team of voluntary interpreters run by a co-ordinator. Available in many languages. OH did it for about a year....he even had to pay his own parking

Surreygirl, if you re-read Domino´s post you will see that the anaesthetist did not provide an interpreter but expected that the central de salud would. Domino is in Granada.

Saying that most hospitals have interpreters is misleading as many do not.

Rosemary

It is not misleading at all as many do. I am merely asking the OP to inquire at the hospital she is attending to find out if they have that facility so I do not know how that can be misleading

you said 'most' - & it was the specialist at the hospital who told him to bring an interpreter from the centro de salud


which just goes to show how things can be very different in different areas

Most hospitals may have BUT getting them is an art all of its own where I lived in the past. Here where I am now the local clinic can be good bad or indifferent depending on the day the month, the staff and the patient.

I think you will find that the OP is a man, clue in (little ..sorry Domino ) blue symbol by the user name.

I did say "most" and most do, I have not said "all" and obvious there are some or the anetheatist would not of asked the OP to bring one from the centro de salud!! I am sorry I do not know what your argument is/are. Most does not mean "all" it means most ie most do but some dont!! ALL three of the hospitals and all of the centro de saluds I visit have translators available so to me that is most!

True but there is no harm in trying is there if you need a translator you need a translator and so you have to - as with everything in life - check out all avenues and if that is no good than the only option is to pay for one. The only thing people are trying to do is to help the OP and that can only be by making suggestions.

but neither centro de salud in my town, nor the two nearest hospitals do, for outpatients appointments

so in my area that means none.....

although I do know that many in other areas do have them