Our family recently had a scare when an elderly relative was rushed to a public hospital’s ICU due to a sudden illness. It was an incredibly harrowing experience. While it’s something you hope to never go through, being prepared can reduce panic if the unexpected happens. So, I’m documenting my experience to serve as a guide and a personal reminder for fellow expatriates in Spain.
Visitation Rules and Communication
ICU visitation in Spain is strictly managed, completely different from a regular ward. At the hospital we went to, there were only two fixed visitation slots per day, usually around noon and in the evening. A maximum of two family members were allowed in at a time, for only about 30 minutes each visit. You have to state the patient’s name via an intercom at the entrance, and a nurse will grant access after confirmation. Upon entry, you must use hand sanitizer, and sometimes, wearing an isolation gown is required. The attending doctor typically comes out near the end of the visit to update the family on the patient’s condition, explaining monitoring data and treatment plans. This communication is crucial. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions you have; the doctors are very patient and will do their best to explain things in a way you can understand.
Costs and Insurance
The issue of cost is likely a major concern for many. In our case, since we went through the public healthcare system and our relative is covered by social security, the government covered all expenses from the emergency services to the ICU stay. We didn’t have to pay a single cent out of pocket. This experience truly showed me the strength of the Spanish public healthcare system, especially in the face of critical illness. However, I did inquire about the costs for someone without social security or on a tourist visa. An ICU stay can be incredibly expensive, potentially running into thousands of euros per day. Therefore, if you’re living in Spain long-term, having valid medical insurance is no joke. Whether it’s the public social security card or private insurance, it is absolutely vital
! Don’t ever skip getting it just to save some trouble.
What Can Family Members Do?
When a patient is in the ICU, they are entirely in the hands of the medical team, and there’s a limited amount of things family members can do. Besides visiting during the designated hours to provide emotional support, the most important thing is to stay informed by the doctors. The nurses’ station has a direct line to the ICU. In non-visiting hours, you can call for a general update in case of an emergency or just to check in. However, they will usually only tell you if the patient is ‘estable’ (stable)
or if there have been significant changes. For more detailed information on their condition, like in this Spanish ICU experience, you’ll need to wait to speak with the doctor in person during visitation. The table below summarizes some questions you can prepare to facilitate communication with the doctor:
| Category | Suggested Questions |
|---|
| Patient’s Progress | How are the main vital signs today? Is there an improvement compared to yesterday? |
| Treatment Plan | What are the main medications or treatments currently being administered? What is the next step in the treatment plan? |
| Prognosis | What are the most significant risks at the moment? What should we, as the family, be prepared for? |
Finally, I want to say that the waiting is undoubtedly a long and agonizing process, but please, trust the professional medical teams in Spain. Staying calm and taking care of yourself is the best way to be a solid support for the patient. I hope my experience can be of some help to those who need it, and I wish everyone’s family good health and peace, so you’ll never have to use this post.
