Guidance

Support for British Nationals experiencing mental health difficulties in Spain

Updated 20 May 2024

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spain-mental-health-support-abroad/mental-health-support-for-british-nationals-in-spain

Disclaimer

The information contained in this note is intended for your general guidance only, it is not a substitute for obtaining your own medical and legal advice. While all due care has been taken in compiling this information, accuracy cannot be guaranteed and the applicable law and procedures may occasionally change. For these reasons neither His Majesty’s Government nor any member of the British Consular staff can accept liability for any costs, damages or expenses which might be incurred.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office holds and uses data for purposes notified to the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act 1998 (which may be viewed at www.ico.org.uk. Such personal data may be disclosed to other UK Government Departments and public authorities.

FCDO consular support: what we can and can’t do

Whenever possible we will seek your permission before taking any action on your behalf.

If you are having mental health issues in Spain we can:

  • listen to you and help you look at your options
  • help you contact friends and family
  • visit you in hospital or prison
  • raise any concerns about your treatment or welfare – for example, with hospital or prison authorities
  • help doctors in Spain contact UK doctors who know your medical history
  • give you information about local pharmacies
  • offer help, if you choose to remain overseas
  • contact your travel representative or travel insurance company

We cannot:

  • give you advice on mental health issues
  • buy or supply medication
  • withhold or remove your passport
  • stop you from travelling abroad
  • require you to return to the UK
  • pay for you to return to the UK
  • pay for your food, accommodation or medical bills
  • get you better treatment in hospital or prison than is given to local people

What to do if you need help

Emergencies

In an emergency, you can:

  • call 112 for emergency services. You will be asked which service you need. You will need to ask for a doctor or ambulance.
  • go to the nearest hospital emergency ward (“urgencias”).

Not all emergency services and doctors speak English. If possible, you should go accompanied by someone that can speak Spanish or ask a local person to help you with your call. It would be very helpful if you could provide any medical background including any previous diagnoses,  mental health issues as well as previous or current medication taken, in order to assist with assessment and consider possible treatment.

After hospital doctors assess you, they may refer you on for further care; however, this will be subject to your entitlements/registration with the Spanish authorities (explained below).

You can access urgent public health care in Spain with your EHIC /GHIC or relevant travel insurance.

Living in Spain: less urgent care

In order to receive non-urgent treatment, you will need to be registered with the Spanish Social Security system.

More information on how to access public health care in Spain can be found here.

Mental health services and resources in Spain are organised at 3 levels:

  • tier 1 – GPs (“centro de atención primaria”)
  • tier 2 – Hospital/specialists (“Atención secundaria o especializada”)
  • tier 3 – Tertiary services. These include hospital psychiatric units, residential care homes (short/mid and long-term), day hospitals, day centres, supervised accommodation, CRPS (psychosocial rehabilitation centre) and DRL (work reinsertion centres), social care community teams.

It is always helpful if you could provide any medical background, including any previous diagnoses, mental health issues as well as previous or current medication taken, in order to assist with assessment and consider possible treatment.

If you are registered with a Spanish GP (“medico de cabecera/medico de familia”), you can make an appointment to see a doctor and discuss your condition. If necessary, they will prescribe medication or refer you to a Tier 2 specialist.

The outpatient services offered by state hospitals may vary from region to region.

If you are visiting Spain and need to see a doctor and have a UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you can do so by approaching a local Spanish GP (“medico de cabecera/medico de familia”). You can see a doctor if you feel unwell or need a repeat prescription. More information on what you can access with your EHIC can be found here.

See list of English-speaking private doctors in different areas of Spain.

Involuntary hospitalisation

If you have mental health needs and are hospitalised without your consent, the hospital might contact the British Consulate.

For more information on the assistance the British Consulate can offer, you can visit:

Involuntary hospitalisation is used when a person presents a risk to themselves or others and refuses treatment or assessment.

In Spain involuntary admission to hospital has to be ordered by a judge. However, a competent doctor can involuntarily admit a person to hospital in an emergency, in which case a judge must be informed within 24 hours of the admission and needs to agree to the admission within 72 hours of receiving the notification. Before agreeing to the admission, the judge must hear the affected person, the public prosecutor, the doctor and any other relevant person. This court order can be appealed.

Once admitted to hospital, the patient is assigned a psychiatrist who will make decisions about assessment, treatment, discharge plan and ongoing care after discharge. You must be resident in Spain to be eligible for outpatient or ongoing care plan. Otherwise, you will be discharged with a recommendation that you return to your country of residency for ongoing care.

Guardianships

If you are a resident in Spain and a court, having heard the necessary evidence, decide that, due to poor health or disability, you need assistance with your care, your finances or other affairs, they may appoint a legal representative (“Curador”) to look after your interests and to make decisions on your behalf where necessary. The legal representative shall try to seek your consent with the necessary support.

The magistrate will usually try to appoint someone close to you, a spouse or close family member. If this is not possible, they will appoint a designated official organisation or qualified professional. This process is called ‘De los procesos sobre la adopción de medidas judiciales de apoyo a personas con discapacidad”. It can be lengthy and bureaucratic, and in some cases it could take up to 2 years to be determined.

Prescriptions: on holiday or just moved

If you are on holiday or have recently moved to Spain and need a repeat or replacement prescription, you should contact a local GP or A&E department in case of emergency.

Carrying a copy of your prescription can help doctors to find the same or similar medication. More information about what is covered free of charge or reduced price can be found here.

Costs of hospitalisation

The healthcare system in Spain provides free emergency care for everyone, including non-residents. Access this by calling 112 or going to the emergency department of your nearest state hospital.

You will need to show a EHIC or GHIC. If you don’t have one, you can still receive emergency care but you or a family member will need to obtain a copy of your EHIC or GHIC card whilst you are in hospital to avoid a bill (phone Overseas Healthcare Services on +44 191 218 1999 to order a temporary replacement certificate). More information on how to apply for GHIC can be found here

If you cannot provide EHIC coverage, you could be presented with a bill.

Returning to the UK

Your travel insurance company may cover repatriation costs, if you have a valid claim. Neither the Spanish nor British authorities can fund repatriation, but hospitals might help with the arrangements, if supported by a local organisation. We can help you contact travel care services at airports.

See medical repatriation companies in the UK.

Other useful information

UK information

Spanish organisations

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