Getting an interpreter in Spanish public healthcare

Key rules

• National right: There is no clear national right to a health interpreter, so what you get depends on your region and hospital.
• Ask ahead: Ask for phone or video interpreting or a mediator when you book, not when you arrive.
• Who arranges it: The health centre or hospital arranges the service, so you usually cannot book it yourself.
• Consent: Ask for a professional interpreter before you sign a consent form or discuss sensitive matters.

Services change by region, hospital and year, so confirm what your own health centre offers and how much notice it needs.

Do you have a right to an interpreter?

No clear national right to a health interpreter exists. Spanish law says doctors must explain things in a way you can understand, and you must give consent before treatment. But it does not say the health service must provide an interpreter. Whether you get one depends on your region and on the hospital or health centre. Emergencies, asylum reception and victims of gender violence have special arrangements. Some regions may give you stronger local rights, so ask.

The good news is that you can ask in advance, and many places have something to offer.

What is actually offered

Help usually comes in one of two forms:

• Phone or video interpreting. Staff call a contracted service during your appointment.
• Intercultural mediators. These are trained people who help with language and with cultural gaps. They are often provided through programmes run with charities.

Coverage differs a lot by region. Catalonia, Madrid and the Basque Country have phone interpreting or mediators in many hospitals and centres. Andalusia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, Murcia, Navarre, Aragon and Castilla-La Mancha have them in some areas only. Even within one region, one centre may have a service and the next may not.

Languages commonly covered include English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Romanian, Russian, Portuguese and Urdu. Rarer languages may be harder to get.

You usually cannot book these services yourself. The health centre or hospital arranges them, so you need to ask the staff.

How to ask

1. Say which language you need when you book the appointment.
2. If you did not do that, ask at the admissions desk (admisión or atención al paciente) at the health centre.
3. In a hospital, you can also go to the patient service (SAP or SAIP).
4. Ask early whether a mediator needs advance notice. Some centres require it.
5. If asking is hard, an immigrant support organisation or your town hall's services can help you request it.

If no service is available

Many patients bring a trusted adult to interpret. This works for simple visits. For consent forms and sensitive matters, ask for a professional interpreter instead. A friend may not know the medical words, and you may not want to discuss private matters in front of them.

Never sign a consent form you do not understand. The law says you must be told the risks, consequences and alternatives in a way you can understand. Say that you need this explained in your language before you sign.

The checklist and the questions below cover the practical steps.

Checklist

• Ask your health centre or hospital whether it has phone or video interpreting or an intercultural mediator.

• Tell the staff which language you need when you book the appointment.

• Ask at the admissions desk (admisión or atención al paciente) or the hospital patient service if you cannot ask when booking.

• Ask early whether the mediator needs advance notice, because some centres require it.

• Contact an immigrant support organisation or your town hall's services if you need help asking.

• Arrange a trusted adult to interpret if no service is available.

• Ask for a professional interpreter before you sign any consent form or discuss sensitive matters.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring a friend or family member to interpret at my appointment?

Yes, you can bring a trusted adult to interpret if the centre has no interpreting service. A professional interpreter is better for consent forms and sensitive matters, so ask for one first.

Which languages do public health interpreting services usually cover?

Commonly covered languages include English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Romanian, Russian, Portuguese and Urdu. Coverage differs by region and area, so name your language when you ask.

Can I book a telephone interpreter myself?

Usually no, because access normally goes through the health centre or hospital, not the patient. Ask the staff to request it for you.

Does Spanish law say doctors must explain things in a language I understand?

Spanish law says information must be given in a way you can understand so you can decide freely. It does not mention interpreters by name. For surgery or risky treatment, consent is normally given verbally and in writing, so say if you do not understand before you agree.