When it comes to healthcare in Spain the news is mainly all good. As with the UK, Spain has a public health system which provides free or low cost health care for those contributing to the Spanish social security system and their families. The system also caters for retirees and includes those from other EU countries. The country has an excellent system of private medicine and this exists comfortably alongside the State system with both operated so as to complement each other. The Spanish health care system is rated ninth in the World by the World Health Organisation - far above that of the UK’s.

As an example of Spanish health care, let’s look at the situation in Torrevieja – a small town on the South East coast of Spain and popular with foreigners from many different EU countries. The town has two major hospitals, one private and one operated by the state. Additionally it has three central clinics and operates a fleet of ambulances, which because of amazing co-operation from the driving public, move around at impressive speeds regardless of traffic conditions.

As you would imagine, the private hospital offers immediate treatment with patients being accommodated in single rooms. Hard to believe is the fact that the state hospital offers the same. Both hospitals pool resources to the benefit of private and state patient alike.

As a health service patient you may find yourself being whisked away to the private hospital for a scan or if a private patient, utilising the superb facilities of the state hospital’s laboratories. If you are intent on taking out private medical insurance, again the news is good, with comprehensive policies being available at between 40 – 70 per cent cheaper than in the UK. A system just being introduced in the UK but one which has existed in Spain for many years is one of approaching the local pharmacist for minor ills. They have an excellent reputation for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment and are able to issue all but controlled drugs. In no time at all they’ll have you feeling better.

All very impressive stuff but it doesn't here. If you feel you are not well and wish to go to an emergency centre first text the word Urgencias to the telephone number 5013 and you will immediately be informed of the waiting time before your appointment. No hanging around feeling rotten, just set off in time for your appointment. Television points in town also carry the same and other information. Still not impressed, if you have a web cam you can consult your doctor from your own bed. Until you have been through the Spanish health system you cannot begin to understand how effective it is. In many ways it puts the UK health service to shame and refreshingly, there are never lengthy debates on television about it or do you hear of people complaining. People are ill, people get better - the Spanish health system full stop.

There are prescription charges for drugs in Spain. A patient is given a prescription which he or she then takes to the pharmacist of choice. The cost of the medication is then immediately discounted by 60 per cent. If you do not have a prescription you will pay the full price. In both cases the cost is likely to be less than the UK prescription price- but be aware, in rare cases, some drugs can cost well over a hundred Euros which even when discounted will cost 40 Euros.

Although there is no right to state medicine in Spain for a foreigner, (unless on holiday and carrying the EU health card) it is often the case that those from the UK have enough contributions on their cards to permit state medicine up until the age of their retirement, when everything, including the cost of medications becomes absolutely free. In the state of Valencia, medicine is free for all EU members, making it an extremely attractive destination for some and reducing considerably the annual cost of living. .

No doubt this will be the case all over Spain in the not too distant future. You can ascertain easily what your entitlement to state medicine in Spain is simply by telephoning the D.H.S.S in Newcastle Upon Tyne or if not from the UK, the appropriate offices in your own country.

Whilst the standard of medicine is very high in Spain, it does depend very much on location. If you have set yourself on a plot of land miles from anywhere and anything, then it follows that hospitals will not be on your doorstep. Rural areas may be served only by a clinic - transferring patients out to hospitals as required. Good medicine will still be available but not as instantly. However, most inland locations favoured by foreigners are not too far from a good hospital and healthcare in Spain is something about which you need have no concern.

It may be worth mentioning that many conditions, including rheumatism, arthritis and those affecting people in middle to late age, are not the problem in Spain they were in the UK and colder Northern European countries. Climate definitely does seem to have a positive effect on health and well being in many cases. Of interest is the fact that depression is nowhere near as common in Spain as is the case in the UK. No doubt this is also concerned with the climate and bright sunshine.

Whilst the idea of living in Spain is increasingly appealing to more and more people as the UK crime rate continues its climb, particularly knife crime, there are reasons why you may be better off living in the UK than Spain. If you are in possession of allowances for care, travel, or for other reason you may find that these are not available in Spain. Some are but nowhere near the quantity as are available in the UK. If you are receiving any type of allowance, check with the D.H.S.S. in Newcastle Upon Tyne who will be able to advise you as to whether or not you would be able to continue drawing this in Spain.

And finally on the subject of health care, Spanish hospitals do not suffer from M.R.S.A. as do their English counterparts, who lose over 7,000 patients per annum to the condition and seem unable to make any progress against it. Ask them why and they will tell you that M.R.S.A. is extremely vulnerable to soap and water!