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New Year – New Hospital for Palma de Mallorca
Happy New Year, the Three Kings have made their journey to all Majorcan homes. They started with their arrival by boat in the Port of Soller where they were met by hundreds of local children waiting for the sweets and smiles from the Kings and their pages. They knew that this was just the start and that overnight the presents would arrive, delivered by the Kings on camels or donkeys.
But first there was the major parade in town - around the main square of Soller. All the local schools had created elaborately dressed floats with children throwing sweets at the assembled crowds. Led by the town band, the parade of donkeys, sheep and little lambs ended with excited children and their parents queuing to get their gifts from the Magi. We never fail to be touched by this celebration which is alien to our English view of Father Christmas. Our grandchildren get somewhat confused as their parents continue to observe an English Christmas with all the emphasis on Christmas Eve. The three separate celebrations in Mallorca for Christmas Eve, New Year and Three Kings take some getting used to. It is surprising how the traditions of your own childhood are hard to shake off even though in theory you want to embrace the different emphasis this culture brings.
Our family spent a lot of time in Majorcan hospitals in 2010 and the experiences have been excellent. The television programme ‘Sun Sea & A&E' has shown the public what the hospitals of Majorca have to deal with during the height of the tourist season. The day to day use of the hospitals by residents is an altogether calmer affair. The brand new Son Espases hospital on the outskirts of Palma in Secar De Real opened in December 2010. Son Dureta hospital was transferred to the new one in a series of convoys and the motorways came to a halt as the transfer took place. The new building goes on for miles and everything is ‘state of the art ‘with single rooms for inpatients and an emphasis on the very latest technology.
As a visitor to Mallorca you are entitled to use the local emergency clinic in Soller or any other village (known locally as the PAC) and the emergency facilities of the IB Salut hospitals. The reciprocal arrangements come into force if you are in possession of the EHIC document. My advice is don't travel without it even if you have private health insurance in place. My time spent in hospitals in 2010 with my granddaughter's broken arm and my husband's heart attack has reinforced this for me. I met people who were on holiday who had an accident and were taken to hospital. They needed emergency treatment which they had to pay for because they didn't have the EHIC, a free document issued in the UK. In an emergency situation the last thing you want to think about is ‘how much will it cost'.
We arrived here some years ago with our private health insurance and a suspicion that the local health services in Majorca would not be as good as in London. Our superiority was misplaced and our family's extensive use of the services has proved we were wrong. Our latest granddaughter was born here, broken arms have been fixed and hearts mended and we are delighted with the service and the expertise.
As 2011 is here may I wish you a Happy New Year - enjoy your travels in Majorca and please - don't travel without the EHIC !!
