Home Care in Spain

Home care or hospital at home can defined as a service healthcare professionals offer that provides active treatment of a condition that would otherwise require  hospital in-patient care.  It is always for a limited time period.

In Spain the support offered is very different than in the UK and Ireland. There are a number of instances when Spanish doctors or nurses can be sent to your home, and it is something that should be offered to you in times of need.  But you are dealing with a public system and often this support is not very forthcoming and you have to fight hard to obtain it.

To illustrate this, if you are being discharged from hospital after surgery but there are complications you can request that a nurse visit your home within the 48 hours after discharge. This service is available if a doctor orders it, and if you are recommended for this service someone should ring from your local health clinic within 24 to 48 hours after your discharge to arrange a home visit to evaluate the situation and create a plan for further home visits/care.

If you have serious mobility problems you should apply to your local health clinic for an evaluation by medical personnel to see if you qualify for home visits and any other kind of home care or services available through the public health system. This kind of evaluation is provided for invalids, people who are severely handicapped, fragile and infirm elderly people, the terminally ill and anyone who genuinely is unable to visit the local clinic.