Over Wintering in Spain

[James53]

Hi

Do any of you retirees spend the winter in Spain?

I am on Benepali with 8 pens delivered at a time. Do any of you ask/get 12 to cover long winter breaks?

Cheers

[Amy65]

Hi I go to Tenerife a lot .if u ask ur rheaumtoglist he will sort it for u to get more injections as long as ur bloods are checked and ok and no infections amy

[James53 in reply to Amy65]

Cheers Amy

Do you get bloods done in Tenerife?

[Amy65 in reply to James53]

I get mine done before I go wait few days then ring to c their ok .if so that's it for 12 weeks .I'm home then and get bloods done again so specialist NURSE can write script for next delivery.my friend goes out to different countries doing missionary work for 6mths so gets bloods done out there then phone specialist NURSE results.as long as u get these bloods done .fbc lipids ue esr. Ur ok hope this makes sense amy

[James53 in reply to Amy65]

Cheers and thanks

[Amy65]

No probs have good xmas

[James53 in reply to Amy65]

You too

[Eiram50]

Mine always come in 12s

[helixhelix]

Opposite story I'm afraid. My rheumy refused to prescribe more than 8 weeks at a time for my injections - although three months for all my other drugs! So I guess it depends on you and your rheumy. At the time I was shuttling between France and UK so it did get a bit complicated....

[James53 in reply to helixhelix]

Hi

Can I ask if you are based in England or Scotland thanks

[helixhelix in reply to James53]

I used to live in England, now permanently in France.

[James53 in reply to helixhelix]

Enjoy. Hope all goes well post Brexit

[helixhelix in reply to James53]

No comment!😢😡

[popsmith1874]

Now that's a great thought winter in Spain 🇪🇸 xxx

[nomoreheels]

I used to live there & my parents in law used to go to their house for winter. No problems having their GP ok'ing all their (multitude) meds for 5 or 6 months but that didn't include Benepali. Maybe explain to the supplier your other meds have been ok'd (if that's the case of course) & all you need is your injections to complete the set. Whilst we're still in the EU you could possibly arrange to have your bloods done over there if it's necessary, the local hospital may do it for you.

Enjoy the warmer weather, it's one of the things I miss. I don't do cold too well.

[helixhelix in reply to nomoreheels]

Was that a while ago? Or with a GP they knew very well? It may well have changed as things are getting tighter. Now I think the NHS trusts are setting a maximum of three months for prescriptions, and the new guidance is that if you are travelling out of the country for over 3 months then all you are entitled to is a sufficient supply to get to your destination and set up alternative arrangements.

[nomoreheels in reply to helixhelix]

Well, they'd been with their GP a while so I suppose you could say fairly well though it wasn't preferential treatment if that's what you mean, it was done in two stages, 3 months each repeat. They put all their meds in a small suitcase & took as hand luggage. There may be restrictions in place I'm not aware of, no idea if it has changed. They were signed up with a GP in Spain but he didn't need to supply meds. If they needed any incidendal ones they asked the Pharmacist, anything for minor ailments she prescribed. It may be the same in France, they're qualified to give medical advice & prescribe for minor problems.

[helixhelix in reply to nomoreheels]

I wasn't suggesting preferential treatment, just that they weren't anonymous so likely to get their requests considered. In my last UK practice there were 19 GPs and I never saw the same one twice so they had no idea who I was, and wouldn't so much as offer to go out of their way to give me a Kleenex if I asked for one.

Also the last few times I had appointment at my UK hospital I was asked each time whether I was entitled to NHS services...so things are definitely more strict now.

[nomoreheels in reply to helixhelix]

By that I meant they were known, both saw their GP quite regularly but didn't have any influence to be prescribed 2 x 3 months' prescriptions. But then our & (what was their) Practice has just the 4 GP's, the GP Principal is my GP & one of my friends & ex colleague so naturally knew my parents in law although she wasn't their GP.

Heck, I've never been asked if I'm entitled to NHS service at either of the two hospitals I attend.

[AgedCrone]

You can get blood tests in EEC countries......you need an EHIC. & a blood form from your doctor. If you go to a public hospital you pay the same as a local would, but at a private hospital you pay the full cost...& travel insurance does not cover it.