Having lived in Spain for many years, I’ve always dealt with minor aches and pains at the local community clinic or just by getting over-the-counter medicine from the pharmacy. I had always imagined the public hospital’s emergency room to be a nightmare and something I’d never want to experience unless absolutely necessary. As fate would have it, last month I had to go through the whole process, from the ER to inpatient surgery, due to acute appendicitis. Today, I want to share this experience as a reference for anyone who might need it.
Sudden Abdominal Pain, a Rush to the ER
That afternoon, I was hit by a sudden, sharp abdominal pain that came in waves, so intense I couldn’t stand up straight. After toughing it out at home for half an hour, I felt things were getting worse and broke into a cold sweat. My husband made a quick decision, saying we couldn’t wait any longer, and drove me to the nearest hospital, Hospital de la Princesa. At the ER entrance, I first explained my situation to a nurse at the triage desk. She asked a few questions, took my temperature and blood pressure, and seeing my pale face from the pain, quickly gave me an orange wristband, indicating my situation was quite urgent, and directed me to the waiting area.
A Long but Reassuring Examination Process
Once inside, the waiting began, and it was indeed not a quick process. Doctors and nurses came by periodically to ask about my condition, draw blood, and arrange an ultrasound. Every minute of waiting was agonizing, but the medical staff were all very gentle. Despite being busy, they were methodical. After the ultrasound, the doctor’s initial diagnosis was acute appendicitis, requiring an immediate CT scan for confirmation. Although the whole examination process was slow, it felt very thorough and cautious. They explained every step clearly, which was not like the horror stories I’d heard about being left unattended.
Final Diagnosis and the Decision for Surgery
The CT results confirmed it was acute appendicitis and quite severe. The doctor recommended immediate surgery. To be honest, I was terrified at that moment—having surgery for the first time in a foreign country. The doctor noticed my anxiety and patiently explained that it was just a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure with low risk and a quick recovery. He even drew a simple diagram to show me how the surgery would be performed. After getting my consent, they started the pre-op preparations and handled the hospital admission paperwork. The entire process, from entering the ER to deciding on surgery, took about 6 hours.
I was discharged three days after a very successful surgery. During my hospital stay, the nurses were incredibly patient, coming by on schedule to check my temperature, change my dressings, and bring meals. When I was discharged, apart from the parking fee, I literally didn’t have to pay a single cent for my Spanish death certificate. This experience with [Spanish medical records] completely changed my stereotypes about the Spanish public healthcare system. While the waiting time is a major drawback, they handle genuine emergencies with great professionalism and humanity. Here are a few tips I’ve summarized:
| Item | Advice |
|---|
| What to Prepare | Always bring your health card (tarjeta sanitaria) and your ID/residence permit. |
| Language Communication | If your Spanish isn’t great when [seeing a doctor in Spain], it’s best to have a family member or friend accompany you, or prepare a description of your symptoms using a translation app beforehand. |
| ER Triage | Learn to describe your level of pain accurately, as this directly affects your triage priority. |
| Be Patient | Public hospitals have limited resources, so patience is key. Doctors will attend to patients based on the urgency of their condition. |
Kudos to the Spanish public healthcare system
! I hope my experience gives you some confidence, and I wish everyone good health in Spain!
