[jojo]

My son hurt his leg, I took him to Málaga hospital on Saturday and they x-rayed and drained the swelling and told me to go to Torremolinos hospital where they specialise in injuries - he has (according to the consultant) a very nasty torn ligament in his knee. They've bandaged it up, told us to get crutches, medication and to make an appointment for three weeks time for an MRI scan and a possible operation. I went to the appointment desk, but they refused to do anything without a social security number. We dont have one. My children dont even have NIE numbers, cos at the time they were included on mine, but apparently not anymore???????

I'm on the brink of sending my son back to the UK to get this sorted - any ideas please. I'm feeling quite desperate. What made it worse is that I didnt have an enterpreter with me and the doctor gave me a telling off, cos he wanted to talk about my sons knee in depth - I understood that the hospital in Torremolinos had them, but they didnt

Jo xxxx

 

[Pesky Wesky]

My son hurt his leg, I took him to Málaga hospital on Saturday and they x-rayed and drained the swelling and told me to go to Torremolinos hospital where they specialise in injuries - he has (according to the consultant) a very nasty torn ligament in his knee. They've bandaged it up, told us to get crutches, medication and to make an appointment for three weeks time for an MRI scan and a possible operation. I went to the appointment desk, but they refused to do anything without a social security number. We dont have one. My children dont even have NIE numbers, cos at the time they were included on mine, but apparently not anymore???????

I'm on the brink of sending my son back to the UK to get this sorted - any ideas please. I'm feeling quite desperate. What made it worse is that I didnt have an enterpreter with me and the doctor gave me a telling off, cos he wanted to talk about my sons knee in depth - I understood that the hospital in Torremolinos had them, but they didnt

Jo xxxx

Oh Jo, I'm really sorry to hear about this, and even sorrier to tell you I can't help! I really have to go to work now and i don't know the answer.
I know you have the residents certificate and Zapatero keeps saying you can get medical attention if you have the padron so...
I would leave your son behind with the telly on and lots of comfort foods and either go back to your health centre and try to find someone there to help you or go to the school at picking up time and ask all those Brits what they do??
And of course wait for the answers here.
I really don't think you'll have to go back to the UK. Please try not to worry too much. Will try to find something out .
Hugs
XX

 

[Buenosdiaspet]

That's really rubbish Jo I am so sorry.

I know our kids were issued NIE's when we got our residencias last year, certainly until that point I had no idea they needed their own ones.

I just find it incredible that someone would fob you off like that when you are with a child in obvious pain and misery! How inhumane and wrong. I do hope you manage to find some good local advice, I am sure other parents are the best source of info, please tell us how it works out and hope he's more comfy soon,

BDP x

 

[xabiaxica]

Oh Jo, I'm really sorry to hear about this, and even sorrier to tell you I can't help! I really have to go to work now and i don't know the answer.
I know you have the residents certificate and Zapatero keeps saying you can get medical attention if you have the padron so...
I would leave your son behind with the telly on and lots of comfort foods and either go back to your health centre and try to find someone there to help you or go to the school at picking up time and ask all those Brits what they do??
And of course wait for the answers here.
I really don't think you'll have to go back to the UK. Please try not to worry too much. Will try to find something out .
Hugs
XX

I'm sorry too jo, but I don't think you'll get ongoing treatment - your E whatever it is has run out I suppose?

around here they are really cracking down - if you're not in the system (ie paying into it) they won't treat you at the local 'NHS' health centre

most I know are either employed (on contract) paying autonomo or have private cover

I don't know what to suggest...............

maybe the social worker at the health centre might be able to suggest something, but I think basically you're going to end up paying or as you say, sending him back to the UK for treatment - which surely he must be entitled to with his dad living there & paying into that system?

 

[nigele2]

My son hurt his leg, I took him to Málaga hospital on Saturday and they x-rayed and drained the swelling and told me to go to Torremolinos hospital where they specialise in injuries - he has (according to the consultant) a very nasty torn ligament in his knee. They've bandaged it up, told us to get crutches, medication and to make an appointment for three weeks time for an MRI scan and a possible operation. I went to the appointment desk, but they refused to do anything without a social security number. We dont have one. My children dont even have NIE numbers, cos at the time they were included on mine, but apparently not anymore???????

I'm on the brink of sending my son back to the UK to get this sorted - any ideas please. I'm feeling quite desperate. What made it worse is that I didnt have an enterpreter with me and the doctor gave me a telling off, cos he wanted to talk about my sons knee in depth - I understood that the hospital in Torremolinos had them, but they didnt

Jo xxxx

count to 10 count to ten again now

Get him back to the UK, visit A&E, book an appointment with a sports injury specialist (doesn't matter if he wasn't doing a sport), say sorry, and then get his status in Spain sorted.

Hopefully the following you already know:

You should follow the PRICE procedure to manage any type of soft tissue injury to your knee. PRICE stands for the following.

* Protection. Protect your injury from further harm.
* Rest. Rest the injury for the first two to three days, then reintroduce movement so you don't lose too much muscle strength.
* Ice. Apply a cold compress such as ice or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel to help reduce swelling and bruising. Don't apply ice directly to your skin as it can damage your skin.
* Compression. Compress the joint by bandaging it to support the injury and help decrease swelling.
* Elevation. Elevate your knee by resting it above the level of your heart and keep it supported.

There are certain things you should not do in the first three days after your injury to avoid doing further damage to your knee. These can be remembered as HARM.

* Heat. This includes having a hot bath or using a heat pack.
* Alcohol. Drinking alcohol can increase bleeding and swelling in the affected area.
* Running or other forms of exercise.
* Massaging the injured knee. This can cause more swelling or bleeding.

You may need to use crutches or wear a brace to make sure that you keep weight off the affected knee.

Thanks to BUPA for this freely offered information: http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk

 

[jojo]

I'm sorry too jo, but I don't think you'll get ongoing treatment - your E whatever it is has run out I suppose?

around here they are really cracking down - if you're not in the system (ie paying into it) they won't treat you at the local 'NHS' health centre

most I know are either employed (on contract) paying autonomo or have private cover

I don't know what to suggest...............

maybe the social worker at the health centre might be able to suggest something, but I think basically you're going to end up paying or as you say, sending him back to the UK for treatment - which surely he must be entitled to with his dad living there & paying into that system?

My E whatever should last for two years - which runs out on 4th Feb I guess!!!!! I've also been told that due to the problem with his knee the airlines may not want to take him (summat to do with thrombosis?? - its only 2 hour flight FFS), but I'll persue it. I wish I was fluent in Spanish, yes I'm learning it, but I havent learnt enough to this extent

I think this is my first real crisis here in Spain and I'm not dealing with it very well. I'm usually a a "tough cookie", but as some of you may have realised, where my children are concerned I get very "protective" !!!! So I'm in a state of despair at the mo!

Meanwhile, my son is laying on the sofa being waited on hand and foot and almost enjoying it! hhhmm!

p.s. I have private cover lol!

Jo xxx

 

[jojo]

count to 10 count to ten again now

Get him back to the UK, visit A&E, book an appointment with a sports injury specialist (doesn't matter if he wasn't doing a sport), say sorry, and then get his status in Spain sorted.

Hopefully the following you already know:

You should follow the PRICE procedure to manage any type of soft tissue injury to your knee. PRICE stands for the following.

* Protection. Protect your injury from further harm.
* Rest. Rest the injury for the first two to three days, then reintroduce movement so you don't lose too much muscle strength.
* Ice. Apply a cold compress such as ice or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel to help reduce swelling and bruising. Don't apply ice directly to your skin as it can damage your skin.
* Compression. Compress the joint by bandaging it to support the injury and help decrease swelling.
* Elevation. Elevate your knee by resting it above the level of your heart and keep it supported.

There are certain things you should not do in the first three days after your injury to avoid doing further damage to your knee. These can be remembered as HARM.

* Heat. This includes having a hot bath or using a heat pack.
* Alcohol. Drinking alcohol can increase bleeding and swelling in the affected area.
* Running or other forms of exercise.
* Massaging the injured knee. This can cause more swelling or bleeding.

You may need to use crutches or wear a brace to make sure that you keep weight off the affected knee.

Thanks to BUPA for this freely offered information: http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk

Thanks so much for that Nigel

Jo xxx

 

[xabiaxica]

My E whatever should last for two years - which runs out on 4th Feb I guess!!!!! I've also been told that due to the problem with his knee the airlines may not want to take him (summat to do with thrombosis?? - its only 2 hour flight FFS), but I'll persue it. I wish I was fluent in Spanish, yes I'm learning it, but I havent learnt enough to this extent

I think this is my first real crisis here in Spain and I'm not dealing with it very well. I'm usually a a "tough cookie", but as some of you may have realised, where my children are concerned I get very "protective" !!!! So I'm in a state of despair at the mo!

Meanwhile, my son is laying on the sofa being waited on hand and foot and almost enjoying it! hhhmm!

p.s. I have private cover lol!

Jo xxx

well if you've got private cover then he must be errrrrr covered?


get him to a private doctor

 

[jojo]

well if you've got private cover then he must be errrrrr covered?


get him to a private doctor

Just me!

Jo xxx

 

[mrypg9]

Hope you get this sorted soon. Knee injuries can be painful....OLA ran into me a year or so ago, bashed the side of my knee, I thought I'd never walk again, feared I'd cruciate damage.
Voltarol tablets helped ease the pain but I did some of the things Nigel advises -I read it up on the internet as I knew I'd find it easier to self-medicate than to explain the problem in Czech.
That may have been a mistake tho' as I still get twinges and quite severe pain if my knee isn't flexed for a time.
On a slightly different but relevant tack ....I went to collect my Spanish equivalent of the EHIC yesterday and was told that after April you have to get an EHIC from the country you've been paying into the health system of, in my case the UK. Does anyone else know of this?
I've kept my UK (and Czech) EHICs so I'm hoping that the UK one will remain valid if I get run over by a bus when next in London.

 

[nigele2]

Thanks so much for that Nigel

Jo xxx

Don't know how old your son is but my sincere apologies to him if the withdrawal of alcohol extends his pain and suffering

Sorry for fuming earlier, you don't need that at the mo. Hope he recovers well.

 

[Hombre]

Can't pretend to offer any help Jo, but would like to express my sympathy and hope your lad improves soon.

 

[gus-lopez]

I'm sorry too jo, but I don't think you'll get ongoing treatment - your E whatever it is has run out I suppose?

around here they are really cracking down - if you're not in the system (ie paying into it) they won't treat you at the local 'NHS' health centre

most I know are either employed (on contract) paying autonomo or have private cover

I don't know what to suggest...............

maybe the social worker at the health centre might be able to suggest something, but I think basically you're going to end up paying or as you say, sending him back to the UK for treatment - which surely he must be entitled to with his dad living there & paying into that system?

To be honest,here where I live you cannot get a child into school without a Spanish medical card.
The fact that your husband works in the UK means nothing. The UK healthcare system is residency based. I have a 20 page document from the NHS about who is and who is not entitled to free healthcare. Right across the top is the following, "Payment of NI contributions in no way entitles you to free healthcare, only residency in the UK".
This was done by government to cut off those who left the country/retired under retiring age. Rather hypocritical that when you do want to leave and ask for reciprocal cover for up to 2 yrs. it's based on your NI contributions.

You might also have a problem in the UK if you mention he lives abroad as they might insist he's in the country for 6 mths before he can have treatment. Sorry I'm not trying to be negative, merely pointing out the pitfalls. I think you would be better trying at this end with an interpreter to sort something out.
For the future what you should do is your husband should make a tax declaration here in Spain and under the reciprocal agreement you would then be entitled to healthcards ( as his tax and NI payments in the UK would count ), but a gestoria would give you more accurate advice.

 

[gus-lopez]

Hope you get this sorted soon. Knee injuries can be painful....OLA ran into me a year or so ago, bashed the side of my knee, I thought I'd never walk again, feared I'd cruciate damage.
Voltarol tablets helped ease the pain but I did some of the things Nigel advises -I read it up on the internet as I knew I'd find it easier to self-medicate than to explain the problem in Czech.
That may have been a mistake tho' as I still get twinges and quite severe pain if my knee isn't flexed for a time.
On a slightly different but relevant tack ....I went to collect my Spanish equivalent of the EHIC yesterday and was told that after April you have to get an EHIC from the country you've been paying into the health system of, in my case the UK. Does anyone else know of this?
I've kept my UK (and Czech) EHICs so I'm hoping that the UK one will remain valid if I get run over by a bus when next in London.

Yes, that is right. As from April it becomes the reponsibility of the country into which you paid for your healthcare but as the UK is a residency based system, ( see my last post ) will they issue one??
you paid

 

[NorthernLass]

That's really rubbish Jo I am so sorry.

I know our kids were issued NIE's when we got our residencias last year, certainly until that point I had no idea they needed their own ones.

I just find it incredible that someone would fob you off like that when you are with a child in obvious pain and misery! How inhumane and wrong. I do hope you manage to find some good local advice, I am sure other parents are the best source of info, please tell us how it works out and hope he's more comfy soon,

BDP x

Whenever I have been to the hospital, I am always asked to show my card - even for follow up treatment.

No advice really but I understand it is very upsetting. When I have been with my son, I am usually in tears and because I can't speak Spanish very well, I have to call around and find someone to help!!

I think you can only go down the private route and pay for his treatment. Yikkees

 

[lynn]

Jo,

If your OH is still paying his NI stamp in the UK, your may be able to extend your E106 entitlement to reciprocal healthcare for him and dependants. That would mean calling this lot:

Overseas Healthcare Team (Newcastle)
Room TC001
Tyneview Park
Whitley Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE98 1BA

Tel: 0191 218 1999 (Monday to Friday 8am-5pm)

Once you have the E106, and you have sorted NIE's out for the children,and got them on the padron you take it all to the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad office who wil stamp it to say you can then register with the doctor. Of course, this isn't going to happen very quickly, but would be worth pursuing just to make sure the kids are covered for a bit longer.

One other thought. Did the accident happen at school, and therefore is it covered under their private medical insurance that you will have paid annually?

I can imagine that you are feeling very vunerable. Events like this pull the rug from under you, but I'm sure there will be a way to get through this. Keep strong and hope he feels better soon
L
x

 

[Caz.I]

My E whatever should last for two years - which runs out on 4th Feb I guess!!!!! I've also been told that due to the problem with his knee the airlines may not want to take him (summat to do with thrombosis?? - its only 2 hour flight FFS), but I'll persue it. I wish I was fluent in Spanish, yes I'm learning it, but I havent learnt enough to this extent

I think this is my first real crisis here in Spain and I'm not dealing with it very well. I'm usually a a "tough cookie", but as some of you may have realised, where my children are concerned I get very "protective" !!!! So I'm in a state of despair at the mo!

Meanwhile, my son is laying on the sofa being waited on hand and foot and almost enjoying it! hhhmm!

p.s. I have private cover lol!

Jo xxx

Hi Jo, sorry to hear about your son.
I am not 100% sure but I think if your son is under 18 and you have the padron you should be able to get access to healthcare, in theory anyway - at various health centres they may try to refuse you depending who you speak to but, if you show your European card or Enumber whatever at your local health centre (some of which have interpreters) and explain its for your son and show your empadronamiento, that might help. Failing that, go down to the nearest social security office, taking all known identity documents as well as the above and show your European card and your NIE and ask for health card for your son. Then go to your local health centre with it. I just read something about under 18s having same rights as Spanish citizens to health care here, so in theory I think he should get it.

Re. the UK I was also told by a British friend in Madrid whos only been there a year or less, that she couldnt get treatment on the NHS anymore as she had been out of the country for six months.
Good luck, and hope he gets better soon.
Caz.I

 

[Pesky Wesky]

My son hurt his leg, I took him to Málaga hospital on Saturday and they x-rayed and drained the swelling and told me to go to Torremolinos hospital where they specialise in injuries - he has (according to the consultant) a very nasty torn ligament in his knee. They've bandaged it up, told us to get crutches, medication and to make an appointment for three weeks time for an MRI scan and a possible operation. I went to the appointment desk, but they refused to do anything without a social security number. We dont have one. My children dont even have NIE numbers, cos at the time they were included on mine, but apparently not anymore???????

I'm on the brink of sending my son back to the UK to get this sorted - any ideas please. I'm feeling quite desperate. What made it worse is that I didnt have an enterpreter with me and the doctor gave me a telling off, cos he wanted to talk about my sons knee in depth - I understood that the hospital in Torremolinos had them, but they didnt

Jo xxxx

Hi Jo,
This article, which is very easy to read, does seem to say that you're not covered. But it does talk about a tax that you can pay to make sure you're covered in the future, and who knows, perhaps from day one...
Spanish Attack on British Expatriate Patients Brings Home Message ? Get Health Insurance!

 

[Pesky Wesky]

More info from this page

Healthcare in Spain

How to register your E121 or E106


In order to register your E121 or E106 you will need to obtain the paperwork set out below in the following order:

• A Certificate of Residence (Certificado de Residencia) – available from the local police station.
• A Certificate as a Local Resident (Certificado de Empadronamiento) – available from the local town hall (at the Padrón Office).

Check very carefully what documents you need to fill in, and the process in which they need to be completed. Also, remember that you have to make your own photocopies before you arrive. If you forget something, it’s unlikely you will be allowed to complete the application process and you may have to come back another time.
Having obtained your certificates you must take them, along with both copies of your E106 or E121, to the local 'Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad' office. They will retain one copy and return the other copy signed and stamped to you. This copy allows you to access the Spanish healthcare system.
How to register wit a GP
If you are an E121 holder, you will have to register with a doctor in Spain. As an E106 holder, it is not necessary to register with a doctor

Which is more or less what Caz was saying I think

PS. This is not your first crisis in Spain. What about Ruby and school?? And you got over that one didn't you??

 

[jojo]

I went to Alhaurin de la Torre health centre this evening and the woman there is a saint! Bless her, she filled in masses of forms for me, I've no idea what they were. She then phoned Torremolinos Hospital and complained about the O** B** who sent me away and made me an appointment for my son to have an MRI scan in three weeks time.

I needed my sons euro card (NHS card), his passport and current address! Thats all they needed. The number is for residents and their families who work here. I guess I'm slightly different cos my OH works in the UK and thats where he pays taxes etc, but whatever forms this lovely lady filled in, it did the trick!!!!!!!! I'm so relieved, its even stopped raining !!

Thanks everyone for your advise, its actually lovely to have people to "rant" to, cos I felt very alone and helpless today - I so wish I was fluent !!!!!!

Jo xxx