Hi Guys

We are new to Spain and the forum.

We live near Cullar in Northern Andalucia and have been told that our local Doctors practice does not speak any English. We,of course do not speak any Spanish yet.

Our question is:

Do we have to register with our local practice(as one would have to do in UK) or, could we find a practice where English is spoken at least until such time as our Spanish is better.

We have an ongoing medical maintenance issue that has to be arranged for so please, no answers pontificating on the need for us to speak Spanish. Real advice and guidance would be genuinely welcomed

On what basis do you think you will have access to the Spanish health service?

Are you UK pensioners with an S1 form from the DWP or do you just have the EHIC card issued by the UK?

Are you tourists or intending to stay permanently?

As Concierge for the Spanish section of BE I would like to say hello and welcome.

BE is a very large expat website, so if you have problems finding your way around we have concierges who will try to direct you. The moderators for the Spanish forums are Mitzyboy and Fred James, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderador who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. At the top of the page you will find a quirkily named thread called Free Beer which is full of important and useful information. Hope you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Hi Fred

We are pensioners and have owned our property for some years in absentia but are just setting up to live here permanently. We now have a Residencia but have only just started about registering with a doctor so we know nothing at this stage.

Thanks

as Fred says, you need to be sure that you can access the state system - if you can, then you will be allocated the medical centre nearest your home


if of course you need private healthcare then you are at liberty to use any doctor you choose

Have you applied to the DWP. For a S1 form?

If not you need to do so or you will have no medical cover.

I thought they'd have needed the S1s to register as resident

unless they have private healthcare....

... all depends when they applied for their 'residencia'.

of course, they wouldn't have needed them before last August - I just figured it was more recently since they have medical needs & haven't yet registered with a doctor - that's not something you'd leave 6 months, is it?

We received our Residencias January 2012. Although we are British we have not lived in the UK for many years as I have been working overseas.

We do not know what a DWP or,Si are. Could you explain please.

Department of Work and Pensions. S1 is a form, letter they supply to State Pensioners who move within Europe.

DWP - UK Department of Work and Pensions.

S1 form. Issued to People who have qualified for a UK state pension and have moved to another EU country. It gives the holder reciprocal rights to healthcare so they can be eligible for the Spanish health system.

Also issued to people who are not retired but who have recently been paying national insurance contributions in the UK and are moving to another EU country. It gives temporary entitlement for up to 2 years.

who'd of thunk it


you're here over a year, have medical needs & you haven't yet registered with a doctor!?

Can you actually register with a doctor if you are not covered by the health system and don't have an EHIC? I thought your only option was to go to Urgencias or private.