EMERGENCY SERVICES

The emergency medical services are extremely good and in virtually every town and city, you can dial a special number for the emergency services (Servicios de Urgencias). For example, in Malaga it’s 061 for an ambulance, 080 for the fire service and 091 for the police. You should try and give the age of the patient and type of emergency so that the ambulance can have a doctor on board if necessary. Some useful words are heart attack (ataque cardiaco), ambulance (ambulancia) and doctor (médico).

AMBULANCE SERVICES
If you are involved in a life-threatening situation, such as a serious car accident, you (or someone with you) should call for an ambulance. Either call your local emergency ambulance number or the Red Cross (Cruz Roja) tel: 952 443 545. There are also 24-hour private medical centres throughout the Costa del Sol, many of which have bilingual staff.
Private ambulance services provide a 24-hour service in most towns and are listed by town under Ambulances in the Yellow Pages. Most clinics and private hospitals also operate their own ambulance services. Ambulances are equipped with emergency equipment such as oxygen and life-support systems and drivers and staff are trained to provide first-aid. On the Costa del Sol, there is also an emergency helicopter service (helicopteros sanitarios). Social security patients don't pay for ambulance services and private patients are generally reimbursed by their private health insurance (or travel insurance).
By law, taxis are obliged to transport medical emergencies to hospital when requested to do so.

CASUALTY
If you are physically able, you can go to a hospital emergency or casualty department (urgencia) or a 24-hour public health clinic. The telephone numbers of first aid stations are listed at the front of telephone directories and many are equipped with ambulances. Check in advance which local hospitals are equipped to deal with emergencies and the quickest route from your base. This information may be of vital importance in the event of an emergency, when a delay may mean the difference between life and death. In an emergency, a hospital must treat you, regardless of your ability to pay. Most pharmacies post a list of local clinics and hospitals where emergency medical treatment is available.

DOCTORS
If you're unable to visit your doctor's surgery, a doctor will visit you at home at any time of day or night. If you need a doctor or medicine in a non-urgent situation and are unable to contact a doctor, ring the telephone information service 1003 or your local police station, either of whom will give you the telephone number of a doctor on call or the address of the pharmacy that is open.

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

Malaga Health Centre
(+34) 952 604 266
Fuengirola Health Centre
(+34) 952 468 945
Marbella Health Centre
(+34) 952 826 596
Sea Rescue
(+34) 900 202 202

Málaga Hospital
Hospital Regional Carlos Haya Public (General) Avda. Carlos Haya, 29010, Málaga
Tel: (+34) 951 030 100
Incorporating:
Hospital Materno Infantil (Maternity & Infant Hospital)
Arroyo de los Angeles, 29011, Málaga
Tel: (+34) 951 030 200
Hospital Provincial San Juan de Dios
Avda Doctor Gálvez Ginacher,o 29009, Málaga
Tel: (+34) 951 030 300
Hospital Ciudad Jardín
Avda Jorge Silvela 8-10, 29014, Málaga
Tel: (+34) 951 030 400

Fuengirola Hospital
Hospital Clínica Salus-Fuengirola Private (General) Avda Clemente Diaz, Edificio Puebla Lucia1, 1-5, 29640, Fuengirola (Málaga)
Tel: (+34) 952 457 944

Marbella Hospital
Hospital Costal del Sol Public (General) A7, Km 187, 29600, Marbella (Málaga)
Tel: (+34) 952 828 250 www.hcs.es