Radiotherapy
 

Can someone help with advice please. We have been living in Spain for 4 years and had no health problems. But a few months ago my husband was rushed in as an emergency which we used our E111 card. He had a 10 day stay in hospital and has had some tests done and they have found that he has prostrate cancer. The treatment thay have suggested is radiotherapy.

Question 1 Can anyone tell us the cost of private radiotherapy in Spain he needs 30?

Question 2 If we go back to the UK can we just pick up at our doctors ( we never came off their books although we have no UK addresss) and have the treatment over there ?
If anyone has been in this situation would be grateful for any advice. Thanks

Re: Radiotherapy
 

how much treatment would be in spain no idear sorry.my parents live in spain and use our address we order there perscriptions for them and send the tablets out to them .is there any ones address you could use near to you old doctors .i would get it sorted prity quick to get his treatment on the way .good luck.

Re: Radiotherapy
 

So sorry about your husbands illness.

Unfortunately the UK NHS system is residence based. If you leave the country and your old dr knows, he/she should have sent your records away and no longer hold them at the Practice. However, if you didn't tell them you may get away with it provided you can supply a (supposedly) permanent address in the area covered by the same Dr's Practice.

Alternatively if you can provide a 'permanent' address elsewhere in the UK you could just register at the Drs in that area giving your previous Drs details.

Your husband will not get his treatment in the UK if you say that you are permanently resident in Spain.

As to the cost of private treatment in Spain, sorry no idea. You need to find a private hospital in your area and see if they provide the treatment on a 'pay as you go basis'.

Best of luck

Rose

Re: Radiotherapy
 

Sympathy and all that but...
...do you feel you are still morally entitled to free health care in the UK?
I hope treatment is successful wherever you get it but if it's the UK then I do hope that you have never complained (and never will) about immigrants availing themselves of the UK's goodwill.
Maybe if you feel any compunction about using the UK's resources when you are not entitled and when there are people who ARE entitled on waiting lists you could make a very large donation to a cancer charity.

Re: Radiotherapy
 

Oh my :(

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Hillybilly is right though.

Re: Radiotherapy
 

A bit harsh though imo.

Re: Radiotherapy
 

I didn´t say she wasn´t harsh, I said she was right.

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And imo when someone asks for advice over such delicate matters, they really do not need to hear that regardless if it is right or wrong.

Re: Radiotherapy
 

I agree totally with you

Re: Radiotherapy
 

Agreed.

Health care for expats in Spain is a minefield and it's easy to be wise after the event.

The reality is that if you leave the UK for more than 3 months (6 months for a pensioner) you lose all rights to healthcare in the UK. If you are not resident in the UK you are not entitled to use a E111/EHIC that was issued in the UK - you are supposed to return it.

If you come to live in Spain and are not entitled to an EHIC, E121 or E106, and you are not paying into the Spanish social security system then you have NO health cover at all - not even for emergency treatment.

The only option is private medical insurance (which is relatively cheap in Spain).

If you do not take that option you are effectively self insuring and will have to pay for any treatment you require.

That's the situation - it may not be fair but that's the way it is.

Apart from paying for the treatment in Spain about the only option is to return to the UK and hope that you can persuade the local health authority to pay for the treatment within a reasonable timescale.

Re: Radiotherapy
 

OK, to redress the balance for you (maybe you'll feel differently when you've got relatives on NHS waiting lists or heaven forbid are on one yourself when you run back to the UK):
Sure! Go for it! Go back to the UK (where you no longer have an address and haven't been contributing for years but what the hell), go and see your doctor, make out you live there permanently, get free treatment on the NHS, get cured, return to your home in Spain. No problem at all!
There...is that better?

Re: Radiotherapy
 

To clarify before i get beaten with sticks. i did not say the original poster was right or wrong. I just thought it would of been nice for someone who has the knowledge to give an opinion. x

Re: Radiotherapy
 

Not sure I follow.
I have the knowledge (the OP is no longer legitimately entitled to healthcare in the UK) and I gave my opinion.

Re: Radiotherapy
 

You sure did!!!

Re: Radiotherapy
 

Do whatever it takes. Your husband's life is more important than morals - in this particular case.

Re: Radiotherapy
 

Hallo Patricia,
you haven't said what age your husband is - has he reached pension age?
A useful link is the prostate-cancer society in the uk, it offers very good backup advice.
If you are living on the costa del sol, there is a hospice called Cudeca (I think..) which provides support - also check with your local charity shop - there should be contact numbers for your area in Spain.
It will be a worrying time for you both and I hope that you can both get support, which you will need.
All the best for now,
Jenna.

Re: Radiotherapy
 

Totally agree x

Re: Radiotherapy
 

If you go back to the UK for treatment, all you need to get back into the NHS is a permanent address, along with a utility bill or rental contract which shows you are living in the UK. There is no waiting period before getting treatment. That info is from the DWP.

Re: Radiotherapy
 

As to whether someone is entitled to treatment. To me, the answer is very simple. We are part of europe and are supposed to be doing everything to encourage the free movement of people around the union.

I have paid into the system all my life, but if I go to live in Spain before retirement, I will forfeit all the 'credit' have built up.

I certainly think I would be entitled to the same level of care in Spain as I would expect in the UK. Anything less is, IMO contrary to the various treaties The UK and Spain are supposed to have signed.

Re: Radiotherapy
 

Hoo Haa! Well said old boy. When a family has to go through cancer and all that brings with it the last thing they need is some 'holyer than though' bod pontificating about the morals of the situation when the OP wanted some advice.

Re: Radiotherapy
 

I just hope the original poster and her husband manage to find treatment where ever that may be.

I wish you and your husband well xx

Re: Radiotherapy
 

Yeah, all the best to whatever you decide. Hope all goes well.

Re: Radiotherapy
 

To my mind, the UK National Insurance system operates the same as any insurance system.
All of the time you pay in, you are covered. When you stop, you are not.

With the exception that the UK allows UK residents to continue to receive (insurance) cover.

As to the OP my advice FWIW would be to get a second opinion and if they are short of cash they should have by now been on the first plane back to the UK throwing themselves at the feet of the NHS for free treatment. Oh ........ and sort out cover for yourself now.

Re: Radiotherapy
 

Hola!!
Thank you for all your good wishes and your advice. As my husband is 60 and I am not 60 until next year we do not qualify for free healthcare in Spain. Also as we have paid enough NI for our pensions but have stopped further payments we do not qualify for NHS back in the UK either. We were unable to get private healthcare as they will not insure as this has been an on going complaint it has been difficult. We are now going to pay for private treatment here this seems the best option. We could use our son´s address in the uk and register with his doctor as we never left our health centre but we are not happy to do this. We made Spain our home and we have had 5 happy years here once we get to my birthday next year we will be covered from then on. So in the mean time we will pay for private treatment to get him better then hopefully we can enjoy lot´s more happy years her in the sun!!

Re: Radiotherapy
 

Best wishes to you!

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I just hope it goes well for you.

I suppose if you consider the NHS as an insurance scheme, fine, but it was never sold to me on that basis.