screening programmes

[olive]

Are there any screening programmes here in Spain for those with autonomo health care cover?

I am thinking of the every five years blood pressure, cholestrol, BMI, blood test for men after the age of forty that you get in Britain. Do you just turn up or ask via your local doctor?

Similarly is there a programme of well women check ups?

[El Cid]

Yes, just ask your doctor and he will arrange blood tests etc.

The Spanish are much more switched on about having tests BEFORE you have a problem.

Sid

[katy]

How do you know that the UK isn't "switched on" ? When we registered back in the UK we were given tests on everything. Never offered any in Spain we just had to pay for annual check ups privately.

[El Cid]

How do you know that the UK isn't "switched on" ? .

You mean like the way they don't like giving prostate blood tests for men in case it throws up a false positive?

Our doctor here insists on us having full blood tests every 12 months.

Sid

[katy]

When my OH had kidney stones his GP in Spain decided to test for prostrate by putting his fingers up his back side

[El Cid]

Thats normal anywhere - it's known as a DRE.

Sid

[oliveview01]

When my OH had kidney stones his GP in Spain decided to test for prostrate by putting his fingers up his back side

OH is still getting over the shock of that test

[crazyred]

Beware of over enthusiastic Drs and the PSA test for prostate problems. Things like riding a bike or ejaculating can raise levels of this protein. My ex had this test in the UK and even though his PSA levels were not much above normal and his prostate was not enlarged, he was sent for a biopsy. This threw his hormones off balance and he swelled up like the Michellin Man which I then had to sort out homeopathically as the Dr wasn't interested!

[oliveview01]

I am not in the Spanish ´NHS´system, as I am too young, but I was called for a mammogram, when I queried it, because I am not covered by the Spanish system. I was told it was nothing to do with the Madrid Government it is the Andalucian Government calling me for the test. What would have happened had they found anything I do not know!

[katy]

Thats normal anywhere - it's known as a DRE.

Sid

Hey what's DRE...should it go in the rude words thread

[El Cid]

Hey what's DRE...should it go in the rude words thread

Digital Rectal Examination.

Digital in this context is unfortunately not referring to some high tech electronic method but digit in the sense of finger.

Ouch

Sid