https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Many Brits in Spain are anxious about what Brexit means for their access to public healthcare. Luckily there's a scheme which can solve this: the “convenio especial” (special agreement). Here's what you need to know about it. https://www.thelocal.es/20200907/brexit-how-to-access-spains-public-healthcare-if-youre-not-a-pensioner-or-working Mon, 07 Sep 2020 14:49:18 +0200 brexit-how-to-access-spains-public-healthcare-if-youre-not-a-pensioner-or-working If you're planning on moving to Spain and are not retired or don't have a job yet, you'll need to get private healthcare insurance in order to qualify for residency. https://www.thelocal.es/20200810/best-private-health-insurance-options-in-spain-for-brits Mon, 10 Aug 2020 18:55:02 +0200 best-private-health-insurance-options-in-spain-for-brits AS the coronavirus epidemic continues to claim thousands of lives, how are different countries around Europe plotting a route back to normality? Our journalists and contributors give their latest insights. https://www.thelocal.es/20200410/coronavirus-in-europe-how-countries-are-searching-a-return-to-normality Fri, 10 Apr 2020 13:45:08 +0200 coronavirus-in-europe-how-countries-are-searching-a-return-to-normality Sue Wilson of Bremain in Spain compares recent experience of healthcare in Britain and in Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20191202/theres-a-stark-difference-between-healthcare-in-uk-and-spain Mon, 02 Dec 2019 10:35:09 +0100 theres-a-stark-difference-between-healthcare-in-uk-and-spain A new ranking reveals which hospitals in Spain are the best. And which are the worst. https://www.thelocal.es/20191126/these-are-the-best-and-worst-hospitals-in-spain Tue, 26 Nov 2019 17:27:54 +0100 these-are-the-best-and-worst-hospitals-in-spain The latest UK government announcement about the provision of health care to British nationals living in the EU in the event of a No-deal Brexit sent shockwaves through the ‘expat’ community and was particularly alarming for those Brits in the EU who are pensioners or living with long term illnesses or disabilities. https://www.thelocal.es/20190926/healthcare-in-spain-after-brexit-what-you-need-to-know Thu, 26 Sep 2019 19:37:05 +0200 healthcare-in-spain-after-brexit-what-you-need-to-know The death of a 72-year-old British man in Spain who was reportedly led to believe by his travel insurer that he had full private medical cover abroad has brought to light a prevalent and dubious scheme aimed at elderly tourists. https://www.thelocal.es/20190709/how-fraudulent-insurers-are-selling-free-ehic-rights-to-elderly-brits-in-spain Tue, 09 Jul 2019 14:34:55 +0200 how-fraudulent-insurers-are-selling-free-ehic-rights-to-elderly-brits-in-spain The British government's offer to cover the health costs of UK pensioners in Europe was meant to provide reassurance to elderly British citizens. The time-limited offer has been met with scorn however by rights groups that represent British nationals in the EU. https://www.thelocal.es/20190321/anger-among-britons-in-europe-over-uk-governments-brexit-healthcare-offer Thu, 21 Mar 2019 09:52:25 +0100 anger-among-britons-in-europe-over-uk-governments-brexit-healthcare-offer The President of the Valencia region had some reassuring words for those British residents who have made their home in the region in eastern Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20190214/valencia-region-guarantees-free-healthcare-for-brits-post-brexit Thu, 14 Feb 2019 14:29:15 +0100 valencia-region-guarantees-free-healthcare-for-brits-post-brexit Britain will have to reach a deal to pay for the healthcare of its citizens in Spain once the country leaves the EU, Spain’s foreign minister has said. https://www.thelocal.es/20161004/spain-britain-pay-expat-healthcare-brexit Tue, 04 Oct 2016 12:18:45 +0200 spain-britain-pay-expat-healthcare-brexit Spain's conservative government said on Tuesday it would restore free healthcare for illegal immigrants, overturning a controversial decision taken three years ago. https://www.thelocal.es/20150331/spain-to-restore-free-health-care-for-illegal-immigrants Tue, 31 Mar 2015 20:14:14 +0200 spain-to-restore-free-health-care-for-illegal-immigrants A Spanish medical organization has launched a website offering fake health 'bargains' like two-for-one lung surgery to boost awareness of the importance of healthcare spending and the future of the public system. https://www.thelocal.es/20141113/campaign-warns-against-cutting-healthcare-corners Thu, 13 Nov 2014 11:47:00 +0100 campaign-warns-against-cutting-healthcare-corners The British Embassy in Madrid has unveiled a humorous new video designed to help UK visitors to Spain understand how to access health care in the southern European country. https://www.thelocal.es/20140513/uk-warns-visitors-to-spain-on-healthcare-access Tue, 13 May 2014 18:10:00 +0200 uk-warns-visitors-to-spain-on-healthcare-access A hospital in the Spanish city of Valladolid has come under fire for telling outpatients with kidney conditions they will need to bring along their own pillows to treatment sessions. https://www.thelocal.es/20140217/hospital-tells-patients-to-bring-own-pillow Mon, 17 Feb 2014 17:30:04 +0100 hospital-tells-patients-to-bring-own-pillow Madrid's regional government has scrapped highly controversial plans to privatize six public hospitals after a Spanish court ruled against the project. https://www.thelocal.es/20140128/madrid-forced-to-abandon-hospital-privatisations Tue, 28 Jan 2014 10:50:00 +0100 madrid-forced-to-abandon-hospital-privatisations Spain crisis-hit health care system has been named number one in Europe for spending efficiency by financial news giant Bloomberg. https://www.thelocal.es/20130829/spains-medical-system-in-rude-health-bloomberg Thu, 29 Aug 2013 18:23:00 +0200 spains-medical-system-in-rude-health-bloomberg The European Commission is taking action against Spain for not accepting the European healthcare (EHIC)cards of people seeking medical treatment at public hospitals in the country's tourist zones. https://www.thelocal.es/20130530/brussels-warns-spain-over-tourist-healthcare-abuse Thu, 30 May 2013 15:31:00 +0200 brussels-warns-spain-over-tourist-healthcare-abuse A recent spate of stories about foreigners being refused medical treatment in Spain has drawn attention to the ways in which Spain's health-care system is being squeezed by austerity measures. https://www.thelocal.es/20130528/healthcare-in-crisis Tue, 28 May 2013 20:23:00 +0200 healthcare-in-crisis Thousands of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers, many wearing white lab coats, marched in Madrid on Sunday to protest against government spending cuts and plans to partly privatize medical services. https://www.thelocal.es/20130422/doctors-spurn-private-healthcare-in-white-tide-march Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:04:00 +0200 doctors-spurn-private-healthcare-in-white-tide-march Hundreds of Spanish doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers, many wearing white lab coats, marched in Madrid on Sunday against budget cuts and plans to partly privatise medical services. https://www.thelocal.es/20130317/spanish-healthcare-workers-protest-over-cost-control-efforts Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:26:00 +0100 spanish-healthcare-workers-protest-over-cost-control-efforts