Vera Playa Hotel / Ill health

[JMB]

I don't want to go into specific details (for obvious reasons)- but if you are staying at the Vera Playa Hotel and you think you or your partner is seriously ill - insist that the hotel calls the ambulance!  Do not allow them to summon a private doctor (even though you are insured and it will cost you nothing) and certainly do not allow the private doctor to send you by taxi to the private hospital in Almeria.    If you are seriously ill you will be taken quickly by ambulance to Vera, where your condition will be assessed / stabilised and you will then be quickly transferred to Huercal Overa Hospital, and your life might just be saved. 

[mrtoulemonde]

sounds very unassuring , with a large number of people at vera of a certain age ...
makes you wonder

[cornelia]

Indeed the normal route for emergencies is via Vera - Huercal Overa. Everybody with sufficient insurance however uses the Almeria route in the area via a private GP to the private hospital Virgen del Mar. This is also the route with Sanitas private health insurance. My husband and I have various experiences with the Virgen del Mar and compared to the Dutch health service we are more than happy with the Spanish private service. Not only the foreigners but also the Spanish who can afford to do so take the same route.

[millermicm]

I have no knowledge of the local health service around Vera but was taken very seriously ill near Sitges (south of Barcelona). The national health service from ambulance through to intensive care was brilliant (otherwise I would not be writing this)

I was later treated by a Spanish nurse in a UK hospital and I commented about the quality of care I received in Spain and she assured me it was representative of the whole of Spain.

I have to say also the care I received back in UK was equally good.  People are often too quick to report the problems without recognising the good.

Steve

[barnacurra]

WHAT ARE THE LOCAL NUMBERS OF THE EMENGENCY SERVICES.
we have a European health insurance card and pay for our flights by premiar Visa card does that cover everything?

[YIN]

A little off-topic perhaps but...

Seeing as someone mentioned the Dutch health service.  I lived in Amsterdam for a time.  Whilst there I suffered 2nd degree burns to my foot.  I was taken by taxi to Sint Lucas-Andreas Zikkenhuis where I was promptly treated.  For several weeks after this they saw me as an outpatient, and thanks to the EHIC, I received all medication and bandages I needed from a local pharmacy.

I could not complain.

[cornelia]

I was not complaining about the Dutch health service, but merely praising the Spanish service.