One of the biggest worries when you’ve just moved to Spain is getting sick. The feeling of helplessness when you’re unwell and can’t communicate is truly awful. I remember once having a severe stomach ache and rushing to the emergency room. I spent ages at the triage desk trying to gesture to the nurse where it hurt, but she couldn’t quite understand. In the end, I had to rely on a translation app to get my point across. That’s why knowing the names of Spanish hospital departments is so incredibly important! Today, I’m sharing a super useful list I’ve compiled. I recommend everyone keeps a copy—it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Common Internal Medicine Departments
Internal medicine is the department you’ll likely visit most often, handling many common illnesses and chronic conditions like colds, fevers, stomach issues, and headaches. If you’re experiencing what you suspect might be long-COVID symptoms and are unsure which specialist to see, it’s best to start with your family doctor (médico de cabecera) or go to general internal medicine for an initial diagnosis and referral.
- Cardiology - Cardiología
- Gastroenterology - Aparato Digestivo / Gastroenterología
- Pulmonology - Neumología
- Neurology - Neurología
- Endocrinology - Endocrinología
- Nephrology - Nefrología
- Rheumatology - Reumatología
Surgical and Other Specialist Departments
Surgery, as the name suggests, is where you go for operations. Additionally, there are specialized departments for issues concerning the skin, eyes, and ears. I’ve listed gynecology/obstetrics and pediatrics separately because they are so essential for many families. For parents, remembering that the pediatrics department is called Pediatría will save you a lot of trouble when taking your child to the doctor.
| Department (English) | Department (Spanish) |
|---|
| General Surgery | Cirugía General |
| Orthopedics / Traumatology | Traumatología |
| Dermatology | Dermatología |
| Ophthalmology | Oftalmología |
| Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) | Otorrinolaringología |
| Urology | Urología |
Gynecology, Obstetrics & Pediatrics
For women and families with children, being familiar with these next Spanish hospital departments is essential. Ginecología is Gynecology, which deals with women’s health check-ups and diseases. Obstetricia is Obstetrics, focusing on pregnancy and childbirth. While the two are often combined into a single department, Ginecología y Obstetricia, they are distinct specialties. Meanwhile, Pediatría (Pediatrics) is the department for all children’s healthcare, from birth through their teenage years.
Finally, here are a couple of other key terms: the emergency room is Urgencias, and the pharmacy is Farmacia. We hope this list is helpful! Of course, we also hope you never have to use it and stay in great health. If you have anything to add, please leave a comment below so we can make this guide even more complete!
