Any recommended English speaking Doctors in or near La Florida please?

As far as I understand it, once you have completed all the relevant official paperwork on receipt of your S1, one is allocated to a doctor, one does not choose one.

 Although we are not in your area, once we had the residencia we were given an official form to take to the local governing Health Centre - in our case, Benissa, which covers all the local villages - and were issued with a temporary SIPS card whilst they registered us fully and issued the ‘proper’ SIPS card. The SIPS states the name of the doctor to whom we have been allocated and it was made quite clear that there was no English service whatsoever. We understand that this is the only GP doctor whom we may consult - other than paying privately - under the Spanish health service. Luckily I speak relatively good Spanish, but i tend to fall down over medical requirements. And although this is a small village, the population is 60 percent estranjero.

Thank You  -  very helpful

When we originally moved here, on receipt of our S1s we went to INSS in Orihuela and were issued with SIP numbers. We went to the medical centre that suited us and they took us on. At one point I wanted to change doctor in that practice, and the doctor I chose agreed to take me on her list. No problem.

As far as I'm aware, it's still the case that you can go to whichever medical centre you wish and ask if they'll accept you. Within our local area, I know people who are registered at three different medical centres.

Thanks very much Jim , That's good to know .do you happen to know  which would be nearest to me, I am living near the Emerald Isle pub and haven't got a car yet .

Sorry, no idea, but I'm sure someone in the area will answer you.

Thanks Jim, All The Best - Rob

Hi,

The medical centre for your area is in Cabo Roig. It is a well equipped centre that does offer a 24 hour service for emergencies. Whilst the doctors and nurses do speak some English, they are not obliged to. I manage ok, but if I thought there could be a special problem, then I would hire an interpreter. Appointments are easy to get, so it is a vast improvement to the UK system. Your SIP card will show the name of a doctor and a nurse. You can make appointments easy by ringing the Torrevieja Hospital phone number. It takes about 10 minutes in a car to the doctors, but you can also get a bus from La Florida to La Zenia Boulevard, where you wait 5 minutes for the blue line bus, which takes you to right outside the medical centre, and by the Thursday market. The only problem is that they only run every 90 minutes. A taxi costs about 9 euros. I am sure you will get on ok. Good luck.

In the Valencian Community, you can make appointments online.

Go to:

http://www.san.gva.es/cita_previa/citaprevia_cas.html

Enter your SIP number - the eight digits in bold font, plus your date of birth.

Click on Validar.

On the next page, click on Pedir cita.

Put a blob against the service you require - the first is for a doctor's appointment, and the second (if available at your surgery) is with the nurse.

Click on Seleccionar.

Click on the date you want, and enter the time you want.

Click on Pedir cita.

You'll be shown the next three appointments available at or after your selected date/time.

If one of those is acceptable, click on Confirmar cita.

Then click on Confirmar.

You can download or print the confirmation if you wish.

Thanks again Jim ,very useful info !