my friend is not on the system here and needs an operation on a hernia, if he goes on the system as self employed how long will he have to wait

That sounds a bit iffy.
Why are they not in the system???
Obviously they do not have private insurance and being self employed does not necessarily entitle you to free health care.
All in all it will be a long wait as getting onto the system is not that straight forward or quick.

he's only been here for 3 weeks

I bet he will go back to UK and have it done on NHS

So in order to get health insurance he is going to have to set up a company and register it, get the services of a Gestoria and pay them every month, pay into the health system here and pay taxes on top?????
Would it not be cheaper to purchase a private health plan?
Waiting lists do vary between each area.

thanks, will pass this on

If he registers as self employed he will pay at least €250 a month every month for the priviledge.

Private health care for a couple in their late €50's is about €140 a month

That should tell your friend what to do

Or he could go to Galicia

Private medical cover will not cover an existing condition I wouldn't have thought

It can sometimes, but you pay through the nose for it!!

However nor will signing on as autonomo when you arent self employed be looked upon very kindly.

Also most have a waiting period before cover.

If he had got his paperwork sorted before he left the UK he would of probably been covered for it here.

It will take some time to organise but perhaps he could get an E106 from DWP.

I think you need to apply before you leave UK though.

No, you can apply once in Spain. They simply asked when you left the UK.

(That's what we did any way.)

That´s what I did as well.