Who to call in Medical Emergency.

[gruff]

Thanks Mowser. I don't have a Spanish mobile, would I have to put 0034 in front of it? I suppose a grid referance would be useful too.

[Mowser]

No need to put 0034 in front. Just dial 112.
Even if you have no credit left on your phone, 112 still works.

[infoseeker]

Anyone who doesn't take out travel insurance and just relies on EHIC must be mad
what about repatriation costs? Many thousands of pounds and not covered by EHIC
Also, how many know that if you've been drinking, and have an accident eg fall over the balcony, or hit your head in the pool, travel insurance is null and void?

[sungoddess]

its all very well to say "must get insurance" but for some of us it's virtually impossible.I have what's called a "chronic heart condition" with a couple of earlier complications.I am perfectly fit,for an old boy,have not needed any kind of treatment,so long as I keep taking the tablets,for 7 years.I find it impossible to get any kind of reasonable health insurance,I was offered coverage for a week in an EU country for 4 times what the holiday was costing,but that's the nearest I have got.I have tried all the comparison sites to no avail and have tried the companies who specialise in this type of cover....no go!
No choice for those like myself and of course,the older I get the more impossible it becomes.

[scotty]

112 even works when you use a mobile phone with no SIM in it.

[Martin Page]

You don't NEED travel insurance in the EU ... you EHIC card will cover you.

If you WANT insurance - that's different, and your choice.

[Laslomas]

Hopefully the ambulance you call will find your address OK. When my husband collapsed suddenly, I stayed with him whilst a neighbour called the ambulance (112). It was 25 minutes before it arrived which sadly was too late. They said they couldn't find the address. The house was not in the middle of the campo, but on a small urbanisacion close to a main road, only 5 minutes fast drive from the ambulance base, tarmac all the way. So always try to make sure that if it could be a problem that directions are included when making that important call. By the way, I was told by the police that calling 061 would probably have been quicker. Whether that is so I cannot say. I think it is confusing to have choices.

[gruff]

Sad to hear your story Laslomas.
We don't have an address, simply a house name so it would be difficult, particularly under stress, to describe how to get there. Some one mentioned if you make the call from a smart phone they can get the GPS co-ordinates, don't know if that is true.

[infoseeker]

You don't NEED travel insurance in the EU ... you EHIC card will cover you.

If you WANT insurance - that's different, and your choice.

Not true- EHIC will not cover medical transportation
back to the UK, if needed after serious injury, or death.Won't cover the extra costs of a long stay in hospital once the emergency is over.neither will it cover accommodation for those who have to stay with the injured.
Also what about non medical things, money or luggage stolen, having to cut holiday short etc

[Wicksey]

When you live in the campo and don't have an address would they be able to use your GPS reference? I have a not eof ours and put it into a program on the internet and it found our house and even did the route to it from the nearest main road, so wondered if the local ambulances would be able to do the same.