Taking a child to the emergency room (urgencias) in Spain

Terms used

• Urgencias — Urgencias is the emergency department of a hospital, for urgent and serious problems.
• Pediatra — A pediatra is a children's doctor who looks after your child's health at the centro de salud.
• Centro de salud — The centro de salud is your local public health centre, where family doctors and pediatras see patients.
• PAC — The PAC is an urgent primary-care centre open when the centro de salud is closed; also called SUAP.
• Tarjeta sanitaria — The tarjeta sanitaria is the regional health card that gives you access to public healthcare.
• Padrón — The padrón is the register of residents kept by your town hall.

Key rules

• Emergency: Call 112 if your child's life may be in danger.
• Age cut-off: Paediatric care generally runs to 14, but some regions or hospitals go to 15 or 16.
• Health card: Your child needs a tarjeta sanitaria before being assigned a pediatra.
• Small hospitals: Small hospitals may have only a general emergency department with no separate children's area.

Where to go first

Call 112 if your child's life may be in danger. Serious or complex problems go to the hospital urgencias. For minor urgent problems, start with your child's pediatra at the centro de salud, or the urgent primary-care centre out of hours. The choice table below helps you pick.

During opening hours: the pediatra

Minor problems like fever, ear pain or a rash are seen at your child's centro de salud by their pediatra. Phone or go to the admission desk (admisión) and ask for an urgent appointment.

Out of hours: the PAC or SUAP

When the centro de salud is closed, go to the PAC (also called SUAP or punto de atención continuada). In many areas a family doctor sees children there, and sometimes a pediatra. If the doctor thinks your child needs more, they will send you to hospital.

Hospital paediatric urgencias

Most medium and large public hospitals have a separate paediatric urgencias area with paediatric staff. Small hospitals may have only a general emergency department, so find out which hospital near you has a children's area before you need it.

The age cut-off

Children are generally seen in paediatric care up to 14. Some regions, including Andalucía and Madrid in specific hospitals, extend this to 15 or 16, and some hospitals extend it for chronic conditions. Older teens go to adult services. Each regional health service or hospital sets the age, so ask your hospital or health area.

Getting your child a pediatra

1. Register your child in the padrón and make sure they have social security coverage, usually through a parent.
2. Get their tarjeta sanitaria.
3. With the card, your child is assigned to the pediatra at the centro de salud for your home area. This happens automatically, or when you register at admisión, online or by phone.

Most regions let you request a particular centro or pediatra, depending on capacity. Some allow a change once a year. Children usually move to a family doctor from age 14, though some regions use 15 or 16.

Do this before your child is ill, so the pediatra is already in place when you need them.

Choosing between options

Where should you take your child for urgent care?

• Centro de salud pediatra: The problem is minor and it is during the centre's opening hours.

• Out-of-hours urgent primary-care centre (PAC or SUAP): The problem is minor but the centro de salud is closed. A family doctor or sometimes a pediatra attends.

• Call 112: It is a real emergency, or the nearest hospital is small and has only a general emergency department.

Minor problems go to the pediatra or the out-of-hours centre; serious or complex problems go to hospital urgencias; a real emergency means calling 112.

Checklist

• Ask your hospital or health area up to what age children are seen in paediatric urgencias, since the usual cut-off is 14 but some regions use 15 or 16.

• Get your child's tarjeta sanitaria (regional health card) after registering in the padrón and having social security coverage, usually through a parent.

• Register your child with the centro de salud pediatra for your home area at the admission desk (admisión), online or by phone.

• Ask for a particular centro or pediatra if you prefer one, and ask whether a yearly change is allowed.

Frequently asked questions

Does every hospital have a separate children's urgencias?

No, most medium and large public hospitals have a separate paediatric urgencias area, but small hospitals may have only a general emergency department. Paediatric staff work in the separate areas.

Can my 15-year-old still go to paediatric urgencias?

It depends on your region, because the usual cut-off is 14 but several regions, such as Andalucía and Madrid, extend it to 15 or 16 in specific hospitals. Some hospitals also keep children with chronic conditions longer.

How do I get a pediatra for my child at the centro de salud?

You first need a tarjeta sanitaria (regional health card) for your child, which requires padrón registration and social security coverage, usually through a parent. The child is then assigned to the pediatra of your home area, automatically or at the centre's admission desk (admisión), online or by phone. Most regions let you ask for a particular centre or pediatra, and some allow a change once a year.