I’ve recently seen many friends on forums complaining about the difficulty of getting medical care in Spain. It makes me feel like I’m not alone in this struggle, so I wanted to share my own experiences and observations for us to discuss.
Unbearable Waits at the ER and Unbookable Family Doctors
Last month, my child had a high fever in the middle of the night, so we rushed to the nearest public hospital’s emergency room. We thought a child’s case would be prioritized, but guess what? We waited in the waiting room for a full 5+ hours! During that time, we watched the room get more and more crowded, the nurse’s station phone rang off the hook, and the medical staff rushed around, completely overwhelmed. We finally saw a doctor after 3 a.m., who just prescribed some fever reducer and sent us home to monitor the situation. The experience was utterly exhausting. It used to be said that Spanish healthcare was free and excellent, but now it feels like a completely different story.
Besides the emergency room issues with Spanish healthcare, trying to book an appointment with a family doctor is another major headache. Before, you could book a Cita Previa through an app or by phone and usually see a doctor within a few days. And now? I tried last week, and the app showed the next available appointment with my family doctor was three weeks away! You simply can’t wait that long for something urgent. In the end, I had no choice but to go to the health center early in the morning and wait in line to hopefully squeeze in. The staff there told me there are too few doctors and too many patients, so they just can’t keep up. Many people can’t even book their follow-up Cita after their appointment.
Specialists? That’s a Lifetime Wait
If seeing a family doctor is ‘hard mode,’ then seeing a specialist is ‘hell mode.’ A friend of mine was referred to a dermatologist by their family doctor for a skin issue last November and still hasn’t received an appointment letter from the hospital. Every time they call to inquire, the hospital’s response is always, “You are on the waiting list, please be patient.” It’s been over half a year, and a minor issue could turn into a major problem due to the delays in Spanish healthcare. Based on my and my friends’ experiences, here’s a rough estimate of specialist wait times for your reference. The situation may vary slightly in different autonomous communities, which you can learn more about in this overview of the Spanish healthcare system:
| Specialty | Estimated Average Wait Time |
|---|
| Dermatology | 6-9 months |
| Ophthalmology | 8-12 months |
| Physical Therapy/Rehab | Over 10 months |
| Mental Health | Basically never Over 1 year |
Honestly, these wait times are outrageous. It feels like the public healthcare system’s strategy is to delay, pushing patients with non-life-threatening conditions to their breaking point until they give up and go to a private hospital. The problem is, not every family can afford expensive private health insurance. This situation really makes one feel insecure about the future. I wonder if any of you have had similar experiences? How did you deal with it?
