The family doctor and booking an appointment in Spain

After getting the health card you are assigned a family doctor, and you book an appointment via the region's app (such as Cita Sanitaria, La Meva Salut or Salud Madrid), its website, phone or by turning up at the reception desk.

• You will need the card number (CIP).
• When calling state your symptoms clearly and their duration, and the staff member or nurse may decide the urgency.
• Appointments may be days, a week or more later for non-urgent cases, and quicker for children.
• The visit is short, about ten minutes, so write your symptoms in advance.
• If you have more than one problem tell reception.
• And do not forget to cancel the appointment if you cannot attend so that others benefit.

The doctor examines you and asks about medical history and may request tests or x-rays or prescribe treatment.

• The system tends to conservative treatment in mild cases, so do not expect an antibiotic in every case.
• To refer you to a specialist (especialista) the family doctor writes a referral (derivación), then appointments are set for you through the reference hospital, and waiting lists may be long for non-urgent cases, and expedited in urgent ones.
• Ask about the expected waiting time, and if your condition worsens go back to the doctor or to emergency.
• You have the right to request a second medical opinion.
• And if you feel your condition was not taken seriously explain your symptoms clearly with examples and insist gently.

For urgent non-life-threatening cases there is urgent care in health centres (Punto de Atención Continuada or Servicio de Urgencias de Atención Primaria) that operates after hours and at weekends, mostly without appointment, and is more suitable than the hospital emergency department for cases such as fever, infection and small wounds.

• For serious and life-threatening cases call 112 or go to the hospital emergency (urgencias).
• There is a regional health number for phone advice such as 061 or 112 or the region's number.
• In some regions nurses assess your condition by phone (triaje).
• Bring your card and your medicine list, and do not hesitate to call when worried.

Most medicines are dispensed by electronic prescription (receta electrónica) that the doctor records in your file, so you go to any pharmacy and your health card gets the medicine dispensed, and a percentage of the price is paid according to your income.

• Chronic medicines are renewed without a visit in many centres via the app.
• You can request medical reports (informe) and certificates (certificado) for work, study or immigration purposes from your doctor.
• You have the right to see your medical file (historia clínica) and request a copy.
• Test results are often shown through the region's app.
• Keep copies of your reports and medicines in a folder, especially if you travel or move between regions or countries.

Your medical file is confidential and your employer, the police or any party is not informed of your condition without your consent, and you are not asked about your legal status to get urgent care.

• You have the right to understand what is said to you and to give informed consent before procedures (consentimiento informado).
• If your language is weak ask for an interpreter or phone interpreting, or bring a trusted friend, and some centres provide cultural mediators (mediadores interculturales).
• Do not be shy about asking for a female doctor for gynaecological examinations, which is often met.
• For complaints go to the patient service (atención al paciente) at the centre or hospital or to the region.

Who is the first gatekeeper of the care system?