Fantastic health care in Spain

A lot is written about the pros and cons of taking out private health insurance in Spain, but I just wanted to share a story with you about the fantastic care my aunty received in Malaga last year. She had felt ´bunged up´ and full of cold for over a month, and decided to have a blood test to make sure all was as it should be. She visited her social doctor who told her he wanted to take a sample from a polyp at the back of her nose and send it for testing. The biopsy results came back and revealed, after a scan, that she had a large cancerous tumour behind her nose, which was pushing on her brain. At first the specialist told Nina that they couldn´t operate as the tumour was so close to the brain, but after further consulation, she was called back to discuss the options. Only two neuro-surgeons in Spain could carry out this delicate op and luckily one of them was in Malaga, so she was booked in to the Carlos Haya Hospital a week later. The operation was carried out a few days later using laser surgery to remove the tumour, which took 5 hours. She was in intensive care for 4 days, where the attention and care was second to none, and she then returned to a 4-bed room, where she was looked after until she left 10 days later. At the age of 75, we were worried she may not survive the op, but the doctors assured us she was in good hands, and in reasonably good health, and although there were risks, there was little choice as to whether to go ahead with the op or not. A year later, she is completely clear of cancer, and continues to have check ups every 3 months in Malaga. It is easy to complain about the NHS in the UK, or indeed about Spain´s equivalent here, but I have the utmost respect and praise for everyone involved in her operation and recovery. She is contacted regularly, and was even offered cosmetic surgery from the neuro-surgeon, should it be required after the op. Thankfully that was not the case and she is now fighting fit and looking fantastic.