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This is Peter and Maureen Scargill's Spanish website. We live in Galera in Andalusia (for clarity, that is the English spelling - Mid-Spain they spell it Andalucia and pronounce it "And-a-loo-thee-a").

We've had a home in Spain for more than 14 years and it is now our permanent base though we retain a small home in the UK.

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Posts Tagged ‘A Medical Adventure in Spain’

A Medical Adventure in Spain

Spanish KittyToday was a learning exercise.  Maureen has had issues with her foot for a few days and it’s been getting “extremely” painful.

At first we thought she might have broken something but by yesterday it was looking for all the world like gout.

So – we asked a local translator to go with us to the hospital in Huescar – emergency department. 9:30am this morning we met her there.

Everyone was helpful and friendly but they weren’t having the emergency bit because she was not in the system – something I found incredibly unhelpful at first until I realised what they were doing.

They filled her details into the computer and gave us a sheet of paper with an appointment at the doctor in Galera. At this point I was getting really worried – surely an appointment might take a long time? But no – the translator told us all would be ok as she was now “in the system”. We drove straight from Huescar back to our village and into the doctor’s office. No receptionist, no paperwork – the computer appointment was already in their system – all we had to do was sit and wait. Less than 15 minutes later we went into the doctor’s office complete with translator. The doctor asked all the right questions and I heard the Spanish word for gout!  Our assumptions it seems were correct though we’ll find out in 2 weeks for sure when the tests come back.

ChurchNext thing we’re back out in the corridor for another short wait before going into another office – I stayed in the hall to hear within seconds a loud yell from Maureen as the anti-inflammatory injection went into her bum. Out she came armed with a prescription.  Off we went to the chemists in the village for the prescription drug. You ready for this… TWO EUROS!  While sitting in the square drinking coffee I noted that this drug is banned in the UK and US and no-one can understand why as they all find it very effective – over here it is as common as Aspirin.

Anyway to cut a long story short, 2 hours later she’s talking to her sister on the phone in fine spirits, telling her how much better she feels after telling me twice the swelling is going down and the pain is subsiding – sounds like a good drug to me.

All-in time – a couple of hours in the morning – all-in costs – 2 Euros for the drugs, 20 Euros for the translator – who used up the better part of her morning on this and was exceedingly helpful, efficient and friendly. This was FAR less traumatic than we could have imagined – partly because everyone, despite the language barrier, was so helpful – and now she’s in the system – handy for the future – now for the struggle of getting a copy of our medical records out of the British quagmire of a medical system. 

On Wednesday I’m off to the dentist (who speaks a little English) to get my filling fixed and I’m already feeling more relaxed about the whole thing. This will be pay-now, claim-back later unlike the doctor’s visit – but as this lady does a full clean for 30 euros – I’m not expecting a filling repair to break the bank.

While Maureen is on the phone, there are a few clouds forming (weather predictions were MILES out though it is still warm), I’ve used the new ant powder on the driveway – seems to be slaughering ants quiet well – and I’ve just solved another software control problem that’s been plaguing me for days… all is well in Galera.

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