Appointment needed to go to health Center ?

[beccamitch]

Hiya! Quick question, in order to go to a Centro de Salud (health Center) do I need to make an appointment? I’ve got a very very painful blister that has been on and off for about 4 weeks and I’m 90% certain it’s infected. I’m in the Meseta at the min and im thinking if I were to stop in at a health Center to get advice someone should be able to help me without an appointment and it shouldn’t be too busy? Maybe I’m wrong in thinking that but the amount of people walking has defo decreased since starting the meseta. Thanks in advance for any help!!

 

[naplesdon]

I think you answered your own question. If you have an infection on your foot, I would definitely stop and have it checked by a health professional as soon as possible, a short wait time might be the least of your problems.

 

[SabsP]

Walk into a centro de salud. The receptionist will appoint you to a doctor or advise what to do.
Waiting should indeed be the least of your worries.
Where will you be tomorrow?
Smaller towns will not have their centro de salud open.

 

[hhw]

no appointment needed to be seen at the Centro in Los Arcos last week (that’s not in the meseta of course, just a point of reference). there was a fee for non-EU citizens.

 

[good_old_shoes]

I went to the centro de salud several times over the years (Fromista, Carrion, Piedrafita, and Triacastela), and never had an appointment. It was no problem.

Ask the hospitaleros, they can tell you where to go and what's the opening hours!

Get well soon!

 

[KDub]

I have walked into health centers and hospitals and have been seen straight away. Spanish healthcare is great

 

[DoughnutANZ]

In general I agree that you should just go and see what happens. Like any "free" medical care facility there tend to be queues of people waiting, many of whom will have an appointment.

Someone will triage you and the time that you spend waiting to be seen will depend both on the seriousness of your issues and the number of other people waiting.

In my experience, going to a medical centre in a smaller village resulted in no charge to me. I think that they were not used to the paperwork involved in charging me. In bigger towns where they were perhaps more used to non-EU patients I was charged.

As with many other things your experience will probably vary depending on a bunch of different circumstances.

In any case, please go see a doctor soon.

In the smaller villages go and talk to a pharmacist and they will direct you to appropriate medical care.

 

[Maurice Frank]

I went to the Fromista (on the Meseta) health clinic last fall. A sign on the door indicated they would serve pilgrims during specific hours 9:00-10:00 AM and 18:00-20:00. I waited until 6:00 PM (18:00) and was treated for my blisters, then as directed, I returned in the morning for follow up.

My suggestion is to call ahead and find out if hours of service are restricted. Maybe it varies from place to place.

 

[James Storrie]

Hiya! Quick question, in order to go to a Centro de Salud (health Center) do I need to make an appointment? I’ve got a very very painful blister that has been on and off for about 4 weeks and I’m 90% certain it’s infected. I’m in the Meseta at the min and im thinking if I were to stop in at a health Center to get advice someone should be able to help me without an appointment and it shouldn’t be too busy? Maybe I’m wrong in thinking that but the amount of people walking has defo decreased since starting the meseta. Thanks in advance for any help!!

You will get a quicker response if you pay for a doctor's review and check than if you expect it for free.

 

[C clearly]

You will get a quicker response if you pay for a doctor's review and check than if you expect it for free.

What do you mean? There was no suggestion of getting something for free, or otherwise. It was a question about the procedure for getting an appointment.

 

[Barbara]

You will get a quicker response if you pay for a doctor's review and check than if you expect it for free.

I don't think that's invariably true or even terribly relevant. The health centre is public health care and is what you will find in a small town . If you want a private hospital or clinic then only the larger towns will have one. It will probably be easier and quicker to visit the local health centre and pay (or not) depending on your health care coverage.
What is important is to get the medical problem sorted before it gets worse. Any cost will be small, and reimbursed if you are a resident in any of the EU countries or the UK with a GHIC. From other countries you can claim on your travel insurance. You will be treated quite quickly wherever you go.