Regional healthcare authorities to attend Consulate Torrevieja event

VALENCIAN healthcare authorities have confirmed that they will attend the Consulate in the Community event in Torrevieja on Thursday September 8, the British Consulate in Alicante said.

This is the first time that they have agreed to attend a Consulate event and according to the Consulate “shows that they recognise the importance of working with the British community to ensure that they are correctly registered for healthcare.”

Martyn Standing from the Pension, Benefit and Healthcare team said he was pleased healthcare authorities agreed to attend this event.

“This will enable us to work together to ensure that British nationals living in Spain can access healthcare correctly. In the Valencian region, everyone can register for healthcare, it’s just a question of finding out which cover to get.

“Having the experts at this event will enable people to find out which cover to apply for and how,” he said.

Other local charities attending the event have also explained why they are looking forward to it.

Jacqui Phillips from the association MABS said: “Work done by the Consulate to advise British nationals about where to seek assistance in Spain is invaluable.  Having attended meetings, like the one being held on September 8, I feel without a doubt, they bring people closer to the department and charities, putting names to faces.”

Meanwhile,  Peggy Wyatt from the Royal British Legion added: “This is a tremendous opportunity for local British residents – prior to the main meeting – to chat with the many charities and organisations established in Spain offering assistance and advice in co-ordination with the British Consulate.”

“For the Legion, we appreciate the Consulate giving us an occasion to speak with these organisations and the large numbers of British residents and visitors.  Our aim is to offer assistance and comradeship via our Legion Branches.  By all working together we can improve the “sign posting” of information and aid integration.”

The Consulate in the Community event will be held between 7pm-9pm in the Centro Cultural Virgen del Carmen theatre in Torrevieja.

The event will be divided into two sections; the first is a “well-fayre”, whereby you will be able to get information from local authorities and different charities that will each have a stand.

Organisations represented are Social services, the Diputación (Provincial Government), the healthcare authorities, Age Concern, RBL, MABS, Help Vega Baja, the Alzheimer’s Association, and many more.

The second part of the event consists of a presentation given by the Consul in Alicante and the Pension Benefit and Healthcare team to focus on access to healthcare and welfare issues in Spain followed by a short open question and answer session.

Anyone wishing to attend can book a place by going to ukinspain.fco.gov.uk completing the appropriate online registration form. Alternatively call 902 10 93 56.