Yesterday there was a rather disturbing report published in the "Money Mail" section of the Daily Mail entitled "Britons held hostage by foreign hospitals"!

In short, the article stated that holidaymakers are being told that they must pay for any treatment which they receive, despite having a valid EHIC - European Health Insurance Card and the paper implied this is down to the huge cuts being made to the Spanish healthcare system as part of the austerity measures.

Villa Joyosa Hospital

There is only one Social Security (NHS)  hospital in this area which covers Benidorm - the Hospital Marina Baixa in Villa Joyosa. This is the ONLY hospital where you can use your EHIC. The two hospitals in the centre of Benidorm - IMED Levante and Hospital Clinca Benidorm are both PRIVATE and will not accept this card.

In an emergency where an ambulance is necessary, hotels will automatically call one of the private hospitals, assuming that all holidaymakers have private travel insurance. They work on a commission and so it is in their interest to send patients via the private route.

Check your card has NOT expired!

Those that are entitled to an EHIC will be seen for emergency treatment FREE of charge at either the Centro de Salud - local health centre or at the Villa Joyosa hospital. However, if a follow up appointment is  required to see a specialist that must be paid for by either the patient or the insurance company as it is not deemed "an emergency".  As an example, if you break your leg you will be given a plaster cast, however, when the time comes to remove it say 6 weeks later that will not be covered by the EHIC.

If someone arrives at the Social Security hospital without an EHIC or insurance they will be presented with a bill for any treatment received. I personally have not heard of any situations at Villa Joyosa where someone has not been treated in an emergency on presentation of their valid EHIC. The service at the hospital is excellent and has often been praised.

The British Consulate has issued several reminders to holidaymakers NOT to rely solely on an EHIC for medical treatment but to ensure that they have adequate travel insurance too. The EHIC will NOT cover the cost of repatriation back to the UK and I have dealt with a situation where someone needed to be flown back by air ambulance and did not have any insurance. It was then left to friends and family back in the UK to try and raise the funds necessary - which ran into several thousand euros!  Everyone always goes away with the mindset "It won´t happen to me" but accidents DO happen. For the sake of piece of mind do not cut corners..... it will cost you dearly in the long run!

Remember, an EHIC is absolutely FREE to apply for, although you will find many websites charge a fee - DO NOT use these! Also for those that have one, remember that they have an expiry date on them so check yours is still valid... and preferably not on the day you are flying out! And most importantly keep your EHIC on you when you go out.... if you have an accident it´s no good back in your hotel safe!