Corona virus and expat/foreigner preparation

Hello,

Good luck with your new venture, there is a lot to learn. I am sure the forum will help!

I have been all over the Spanish health sites and no where seems to have a system. This, I suspect, is because the Spanish do much more by word of mouth than having a system that we can tap into, One of the main differences between our two cultures. The compensations are great though!

I even contacted the Olive Press about their alarmist approach to Coronavirus and the fact that there seemed no routine like in the UK, where you call 111 and someone there will help you with the problem, while you are at home and make decisions about health workers coming to your home, analysing you and deciding if you need hospital treatment or not. The paper has not found such a system nor has another well known expat website.

As a trained microbiologist I can only assume Italy has this laissez-faire attitude and we can see the result, compared to France, Germany and the UK? There has to be a reason why so many people got infected without it being noticed. However, to be fair, most people do not realise it is anything other than flu - in which case they should be at home anyway?

As someone who 12yrs ago had to spend a week in hospital with life threatening pneumonia, the only time I ever needed any serious health care (and I was otherwise active and healthy). I am doing what I can; not to stress, keep active and healthy, while taking obvious precautions and stay positive in mind. There is nothing else we can do, except protect those around us with the same actions?

There is a wonderful English G.P. in Estepona Port area. He is Dr. Peter Furness and we have been his patients for 18 years.

I'm sure you can Google his contact details, or ask me if you reply to this.

Good luck in your new life here.

Neville

Hi Shay,

Thanks for your response. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. I agree both with your strategy and your analysis of the Spanish system or lack thereof. I hope that laissez faire approach doesn’t lead us to the same unfortunate outcome as Italy is having to endure. But life is messy and after the Corona Virus passes I suspect there will be something else for us human beings to be “surprised” and thrown by. I think the Buddhist notion of equanimity amidst the messiness makes the most sense to me. Easy to say hard to do! 

Hope our paths cross

charles

Good morning Neville,

thanks for your response. My wife and I have already visited Dr. Furness  and agree with your assessment. We were very pleased. 

Charles

Is the doctor still practicing?