Spanish Health Care / Convenio Especial

[Johnrgby]

OK I have checked it and the position appears to be this:- If we return to the UK for a visit we can use A+E, whether or not it is an actual A+E situation. also should in the future some sort of procedure become necessary e.g. anything from kidney stone removal to a heart transplant you can opt to have it done in the UK.

This isn't right I'm afraid, UNLESS the Spanish health service authorises it (i.e. undertakes to pay for it).

Entitlement to NHS services is based on residence in the UK - immediately necessary treatment for visitors (non-residents) is however free of charge, including at GP surgeries.

If you are covered by the Spanish health service, you should also get a Spanish EHIC (so that the NHS can claim monies back from Spain for any immediately necessary treatment you have in the UK).

Immediately necessary = emergencies (treatment for which cannot be put off until you return to Spain, or wherever)

I posted this as it clearly says on our S1 forms that we retain our entitlement to chose to return to the UK for any procedure, so are you saying this is incorrect, or that I have misread it?

Yes, that is correct for UK state pensioners with a properly registered S1 in their new country of residence. Bear in mind however that elective treatments (planned/hospital type stuff) requires GP or specialist referral, which may be tricky when you've given up your UK residence (e.g. having been de-listed by your previous practice). I'm not sure this 'entitlement' works particularly smoothly in practice!

But the entitlement exists? and therefore I assume referral from a private Doctor/Specialist would be sufficient? I was always under the impression that The UK Health Service paid the Spanish Health service for our medical care, not the other way around as you suggested?