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View Full Version : What do you think about your Spanish health treatment compared to the UK?



slodgedad
02-09-2011, 00:31
When my wife suffered a major stroke in January my first thoughts were to get her 'home', even though this is home.

Her treatment has been exemplary.

What are your experiences with the Spanish health system, and would you have fared better in the UK?

uptowngirl
02-09-2011, 01:06
I have always found the system over here second to none. Is that because I pay private though??? However, when on maternity etc, I have used the social system and treatment has always been excellent.

For me for an operation on my gallbladder and then for childbirth, Las Ramblas has been absolutely fantastic.

miguel
02-09-2011, 01:45
When my wife suffered a major stroke in January my first thoughts were to get her 'home', even though this is home.

Her treatment has been exemplary.

What are your experiences with the Spanish health system, and would you have fared better in the UK?Hi, My wife had two small strokes a few years ago and the treatment was superb (this was social not private). But the thing that amazed me was the after care, still going on now twice a year at Candaleria Hospital. The downside to this is my best mate in England had the same thing at the same time told to lose some weight and discharged, sadly no longer with us. Miguel.

tonypub
02-09-2011, 02:11
social or private in spain,you go in you come out alive/disease free.the same cant be said for britain

Graceylacey
02-09-2011, 10:24
My Dad had a massive heart attack back in February and his care was fantastic, they were amazing and I dont think he would have got that kind of care back in the UK to be honest. It was all on the social, and he was in Ramblas in Sta Cruz

primrose
02-09-2011, 10:44
Why does every body feel the need to run down the British Health Service, there are good and back experiences both here and in Britain, and there are a lot of Brits more than happy to go back to Britain for any treatment they need- My Son could not have got any better treatment anywhere in the World when he had Cancer in England but my Husband could not have got any worse treatment than he did in Burnley Hospital.Here in Tenerife a friend went in the Green Hospital on the Monday for a Cataract operation and died 4 Days later with Septicemia. Why do people feel the need to compare one to another. Last week I went for an eye test and in the space of a week I had seen a Neurologist had a Brain Scan and Blood Tests for every disease possible, yes fantastic service but was it because it was private and somebody was paying and have to pay again to get the results.And as for Tonypub saying social or private in Spain you go in you come out alive /disease free not always true who would expect to be dead in 4 days from having a Cataract Operation.

tonypub
02-09-2011, 11:00
Why does every body feel the need to run down the British Health Service, there are good and back experiences both here and in Britain, and there are a lot of Brits more than happy to go back to Britain for any treatment they need- My Son could not have got any better treatment anywhere in the World when he had Cancer in England but my Husband could not have got any worse treatment than he did in Burnley Hospital.Here in Tenerife a friend went in the Green Hospital on the Monday for a Cataract operation and died 4 Days later with Septicemia. Why do people feel the need to compare one to another. Last week I went for an eye test and in the space of a week I had seen a Neurologist had a Brain Scan and Blood Tests for every disease possible, yes fantastic service but was it because it was private and somebody was paying and have to pay again to get the results.And as for Tonypub saying social or private in Spain you go in you come out alive /disease free not always true who would expect to be dead in 4 days from having a Cataract Operation.the thread title says its a comparison lol

cainaries
02-09-2011, 11:00
Our experiences have been mixed. Some very good, other not very good. Which is probably exactly what would have happened at 'home' as well. I'm not sure it helps to compare them as there is always a need, unless you are bilingual, to factor in the language differences. Delighted to see several people have had excellent and caring service, very encouraging for the rest of us.

primrose
02-09-2011, 11:05
the thread title says its a comparison lol

That's what I gave, a comparison.which is more than you did.

tonypub
02-09-2011, 11:49
That's what I gave, a comparison.which is more than you did.ok,here we go....my brother fell off a bike in tenerife on holiday,had 4 stitches.went to hospital in uk to get them out,ends up with mrsa and a big hole in his leg.

bonitatime
02-09-2011, 11:49
I have to say I have always been very happy with treatment here. I have never sat in casulty for hours and hours which I have done in the UK.
I would not have a major operation done in the green hospital whether it was private or social although I was steralized and had my second child there with no problems. My youngest was operated on in Candelaria which was wonderful and one of us was allowed to be with her all the time and they fed which ever parent was with her which struck me as above average. My OH had an accident and was also treated in Candelaria spending 4 days in their casulty area till they found a bed. This was not ideal and he was 16 hours on a corridor but a corridor there is somewhere nursing staff pass every few minutes not somwhere you were abandoned as happened to a family member in the UK. Also treated there was my great uncle. This was on his e111 form and although he didnt speak a word of Spanish and was83 at the time he was well treated and recovered promptly.
Waiting lists for non urgent matters can be long but I gather that is similar in the UK. They lost my papers for a minor out patient op but after a while of not hearing I enquired and the others being treated on the same day as me were waiting about the same time.
I have always been treated well but am a fluent Spanish speaker so that helps.
Reading back this sounds like a lot but I have been here almost 30 years so it isn't really. What I have always found in Spain generally is if you speak softly and are polite it goes a very long way.

sleepy
02-09-2011, 12:34
I've only used the Spanish system once and that was years ago when on holiday.
In my opinion,it should be better that the UK national health system because it's not free here.
Not only that but it's not even available to use unless one is in employment and paying into the system or a pensioner.

dede
02-09-2011, 12:49
Any treatment me or my family have had over in Tenerife have been second to none, my husband has had three operations since being here and i couldnt complain about any part of his treatment in any way. Ive worked in the health sector for many years and i have to say that if your elderly and need care here in tenerife after being in hospital then the only way to get it is to pay for it privately as its virtually none existent here in Tenerife, whereas in the UK a full care package would be provided by the social services before you would be allowed out of hospital. So sadly its swings and roundabouts if you can be totally satisfied in either country for healthcare.

DOREEN QUINN
02-09-2011, 12:52
I have found it quite bad in my personal experiences over the last 2 years, but they get there in the end!
Cannot comapre it with the UK as have not een there for so long, but from what other people tell me, I dont think it will be much different.

Goldenmaniac
02-09-2011, 14:09
I have been both professionally (as interpreter) and personally (my other half had a double stent operation here under the Spanish National health a few years ago) involved with various aspects of the Spanish National health service for many years and find it overwhelmingly excellent on the whole.

Of course there are difficulties for non Spanish speakers, but this is for the most part with the ancillary staff, the Majority of Consultants and Doctors have a good level of spoken English.

Problems do sometimes arise because of different cultural expectations I think.

Eg for the most part Brits are not used to having to keep their own records including Xrays etc, although even that is changing here now-a days with the use of computers becoming more and more prevalent. They are not used to being in a system which is contribution based rather than residence based as in the UK. Also they may struggle with " the way the system works", but having said all of that the actual medical care , prevention programs, follow ups etc I truely believe to be excellent.

Graceylacey
02-09-2011, 15:01
Why does every body feel the need to run down the British Health Service, there are good and back experiences both here and in Britain, and there are a lot of Brits more than happy to go back to Britain for any treatment they need- My Son could not have got any better treatment anywhere in the World when he had Cancer in England but my Husband could not have got any worse treatment than he did in Burnley Hospital.Here in Tenerife a friend went in the Green Hospital on the Monday for a Cataract operation and died 4 Days later with Septicemia. Why do people feel the need to compare one to another. Last week I went for an eye test and in the space of a week I had seen a Neurologist had a Brain Scan and Blood Tests for every disease possible, yes fantastic service but was it because it was private and somebody was paying and have to pay again to get the results.And as for Tonypub saying social or private in Spain you go in you come out alive /disease free not always true who would expect to be dead in 4 days from having a Cataract Operation.


I think the main reason people sing the praises of the spanish system so much is because most people including myself at first had a preconceived opinion that only the UK could be good, where as I for one have been pleasantly surprised at how good the system is here.

My daughter broke her arm a few months ago, and my ex demamded to know why I didnt get her to the uk to get it seen to????? Why would I travel with a daughter in pain with a broken arm, when I took her straight upto mojon, she was exrayed and cast on within an hour?? They saw her on a regular basis and were fanstatic. My because he doesnt live here he thinks we live in a second rate island which to his mind has second rate hospitals!!eek2:

Any treatment me or my family have had over in Tenerife have been second to none, my husband has had three operations since being here and i couldnt complain about any part of his treatment in any way. Ive worked in the health sector for many years and i have to say that if your elderly and need care here in tenerife after being in hospital then the only way to get it is to pay for it privately as its virtually none existent here in Tenerife, whereas in the UK a full care package would be provided by the social services before you would be allowed out of hospital. So sadly its swings and roundabouts if you can be totally satisfied in either country for healthcare.

My parents are elderly and the aftercare that my father is receiving after his heart attack is brilliant. He goes to see the surgeon on a regular basis and his doctor for his repeat prescriptions. I feel a lot of elderly people would be a little put off getting into the spanish system due to lack of language barrier.

lozzie1821
02-09-2011, 15:11
I cant fault the spanish health system here... i have private medical insurance which is what i used when i had my daughter and i cant fault them at all... I was more concerned and worried at the thought of going back to the UK and having her there.. there are more stories about bugs caught whilst in hospital than ive heard of here..

my mum fell and broke her hip in 09 and went to hospital via social and she was taken very well care of, she didnt and couldnt fault them either, my mum speaks very basic spanish and was worried she wouldnt understand what the doc was saying each morning when he visited but even he tried his best at english if i wasnt there to translate...

my dad was in a very serious car accident, in ICU for 6 days and a further 5 when he was moved.. they wanted to take him to candelaria but he was able 2 stay in costa adeje..

The care here is the best ive ever had to have dealings with i think personally...

dede
02-09-2011, 15:35
My parents are elderly and the aftercare that my father is receiving after his heart attack is brilliant. He goes to see the surgeon on a regular basis and his doctor for his repeat prescriptions. I feel a lot of elderly people would be a little put off getting into the spanish system due to lack of language barrier.

Im not talking about follow ups with consultants after something like your father had, im talking about the very elderly who cant even do the daily tasks of personal hygene, they get no help whatsoever compared to the uk, sorry to disagree but i see this on a regular basis.

casabonny
02-09-2011, 15:36
Had experince of both social and private here and both have been good, apart form private at the Green hospital which was I have to say a nightmare and was only for a money making excersise and not having my health in the forefront.That aside I see the dermatologist there and she is fantastic and I wouldnt go to anyone else but if i had to have an operation in relation to that I dont know what I would do.
Have been as an in patient in La Rambla ( heart) and Candelaria also heart and both were excellent , only bad side in Candelaria was the waiting in corridor after for a room with little or no information being given, having said that it was extemely busy so I suppose that was to be expected.Once in a room all was okay.
I think that in general health care here is good and often , from what you hear from family / friends etc its better in most cases than the Uk even comparing private .In the Uk you cannot see a consultant under private medical unless refered by a GP whereas here you can go directly to a consultant or specialist if you know what the problem is .It cuts time .

I have to go into Costa Adeje shortly for a small op so will be able to compare that to the others but so far here I have only been as an out patient but with excellent service, so much better than years ago when it was well known as ahospital to avoid, now the Green hospital has that reputation .

bonitatime
03-09-2011, 07:56
My parents are elderly and the aftercare that my father is receiving after his heart attack is brilliant. He goes to see the surgeon on a regular basis and his doctor for his repeat prescriptions. I feel a lot of elderly people would be a little put off getting into the spanish system due to lack of language barrier.


Im not talking about follow ups with consultants after something like your father had, im talking about the very elderly who cant even do the daily tasks of personal hygene, they get no help whatsoever compared to the uk, sorry to disagree but i see this on a regular basis.

This is available as the parents of friends of mine had it as someone else mentioned it is knowing how to work the system. If I recall it came through social services in the local town hall.

Goldenmaniac
03-09-2011, 12:16
I'm not talking about follow ups with consultants after something like your father had, I'm talking about the very elderly who cant even do the daily tasks of personal hygiene, they get no help whatsoever compared to the UK, sorry to disagree but i see this on a regular basis.
Have to disagree Dede, I have helped to arrange home visits, cleaners, one elderly lady gets a young lass from the council who picks her pills up from docs and does her shopping etc. they put in panic buttons etc etc. I agree the standard of what is on offer varies between Ayuntamientos but it is out there.
The first step is to request an appointment with your town hall social services department who will make a home visit to assess, or in urgent cases the GP will contact them if needed ( ie respite care at a hospice) The GP and practice Nurse also make regular home visits if there are elderly at risk.

Also contacting http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-spain/more-help-in-spain/age-concern/ Age Concern Espaņa is a good idea as they can let you know more about what is available

dede
03-09-2011, 13:13
Have to disagree Dede, I have helped to arrange home visits, cleaners, one elderly lady gets a young lass from the council who picks her pills up from docs and does her shopping etc. they put in panic buttons etc etc. I agree the standard of what is on offer varies between Ayuntamientos but it is out there.
The first step is to request an appointment with your town hall social services department who will make a home visit to assess, or in urgent cases the GP will contact them if needed ( ie respite care at a hospice) The GP and practice Nurse also make regular home visits if there are elderly at risk.

Also contacting http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-spain/more-help-in-spain/age-concern/ Age Concern Espaņa is a good idea as they can let you know more about what is available

I agree with you it is out there but nothing like the standard that you would get in the uk, one man i know was having daily visits from two nurses as he needed it every day and then his son decided he should move house, all his care stopped dead as he had moved out of the area and he had to wait for 6 months for to be assessed again, it was obvious that he couldnt care for himself but to the authorities that didnt come into it, so needless to say private care had to be put in place until all the paperwork had been completed to reinstate his care from the SS. All im saying is this would not happen in the uk, If you need care in the uk it wouldnt matter what area you lived in you would still receive it.

Goldenmaniac
03-09-2011, 14:03
All im saying is this would not happen in the uk, If you need care in the uk it wouldnt matter what area you lived in you would still receive it.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-1602802/Blackmail-shame-of-elderly-care.html
Just Google UK Social services horror stories and see what comes up!!!!