Ambulance fees plan dropped

Madrid has dropped plans to force all the regions to introduce a fee for the use of an ambulance in non-emergency situations. Back in 2012, a new law came out which ordered the regions to charge a fee (between €5 and €10) per use of an ambulance. The same law introduced fees for orthoprosthetics and dietary therapy, things that were previously free. However… the regions have been feet dragging, and the law hasn’t been applied Continue reading Ambulance fees plan dropped

No more free ambulance trips for non urgent cases as economic measures bite…

The new law ordering massive savings in the national health service of Spain contemplates charging patients the cost of the ambulance callout in “non urgent” cases, such as transport home after a visit to the hospital, or callouts for trivial cases. Although the implementation of such charges is down to the federal regions of Spain, the new law is expected to be quickly taken up by the bankrupt regions and implemented quickly (if quietly!). Other Continue reading No more free ambulance trips for non urgent cases as economic measures bite…

What is Spectrum FM on about? Free taxis to hospital, indeed…

Whilst traveling in someone’s car who had the radio tuned to Spectrum FM, I heard the following snippet of wisdom which went something like this: Spectrum FM top tip: Taxis are obliged to take emergency cases to hospital for free. Whaaaaaat? No they’re not. Leaving the obvious fact that who is to decide which is an “emergency case” and which is just a standard paid-for trip to the hospital (do you have to submit your Continue reading What is Spectrum FM on about? Free taxis to hospital, indeed…