A 6 part documentary begins tonight at 8pm (9pm Spanish time) on Channel 5 entitled "Benidorm ER" which follows British tourists and expats entering "Clinica Benidorm" - one of Benidorm's two private hospitals. It is a revealing Fly-on-the-wall series following the work of the medical team who check up, patch up and stitch up every problem under the sun!
Tonight's episode follows Stuart Clibery - in town on a stag weekend, Katy Knox & Luke Kerrigan, Erin Rennie, Martin Emmerson and Karen Ravenscroft - better known as "Kinky Karen" around the Benidorm circuit. Suprisingly, the busiest time of the year at the Clinica Benidorm is the winter. From October onwards Brits flock to Benidorm in huge numbers, from pensioners to party revelers, all desperate to escape the cold drab British weather. The senior tourists in search of winter sun really live it up, however many over-do it and end up suffering heart attacks, respiratory episodes, strokes and even brain hemorrhages. The younger clubbers and stag/hen trippers bring the anticipated drink induced accidents.
Only those tourists which have private medical insurance are taken to Clinica Benidorm - those using their blue EHIC cards are taken down the road to the Marina Baja Hospital in Villa Joyosa - on the outskirts of Benidorm. In my 10 years here I have used the services of both hospitals - in fact you will be sent to Clinica Benidorm from Villa Joyosa if you need an MRI scan.
As well as being a first port of call in an emergency, the hospital also offers many specialist treatments and technologies including chemo, cardiac surgery and MRI Scanning. Almost all of the medical staff speak English - some, such as receptionist Maureen Santana are expats having lived here for 20 plus years.
Benidorm ER will follow the patients and their families, the doctors, nurses, receptionists and translators who make up the hospital's 280 staff.
As an impartial viewer I will keep you updated on the "accuracies" of the experiences aired.
