Thread: Need lots of advice

Hi all..I am really hoping you can help me out..its alot to ask but here goes.

I am from the uk and due to very personal reasons..one being my child has cystic fibrosis, I would like to move to Spain or at least spend a good 6 months there. It would be ideal for me to do this especially during the cold spells here in the uk.

I need to know lots of things as I have no clue. Ok ..I need to know the climate in spain..I need a very dry enviorment as its very good for my daughters chest..so where would you suggest.

I also would need to be central to shops and most of all a good hospital.

How long would I be allowed to go to Spain for..I mean for a long holiday..and would I be covered for my daughters health care? I have one of those eu cards (medical) but not sure if this would cover.

Next question is renting propertys could you recommend any good estate agents.

I also would like to be near a close knit british community just for the mere fact this would help me settle easy ..also should anything go wrong. I am learning spanish very slowly.

Sorry for all the questions ..but really hope you can help me out

regards lillytree

Originally Posted by lillytree

Hi all..I am really hoping you can help me out..its alot to ask but here goes.

I am from the uk and due to very personal reasons..one being my child has cystic fibrosis, I would like to move to Spain or at least spend a good 6 months there. It would be ideal for me to do this especially during the cold spells here in the uk.

I need to know lots of things as I have no clue. Ok ..I need to know the climate in spain..I need a very dry enviorment as its very good for my daughters chest..so where would you suggest.

I also would need to be central to shops and most of all a good hospital.

How long would I be allowed to go to Spain for..I mean for a long holiday..and would I be covered for my daughters health care? I have one of those eu cards (medical) but not sure if this would cover.

Next question is renting propertys could you recommend any good estate agents.

I also would like to be near a close knit british community just for the mere fact this would help me settle easy ..also should anything go wrong. I am learning spanish very slowly.

Sorry for all the questions ..but really hope you can help me out

regards lillytree

Hello Lilly & welcome.
ou need to be in Southern Spain I fancy & near the sea ?
Lots of places to choose from, but Mijas seems a nice place.
You can come for as long as you wish (I assume you are from the EU)
Health care ......I need to think on this and come back to you as it can be an issue here (can you give more details ?) and the Health Card "only" covers emergency treatment.

May I just add that at the moment in southern Spain, it has hardly stopped raining since before christmas! Its tipping it down right now and floods everywhere!!! Altho there has been some nice sunny days. But dont be fooled into thinking its warm here in the winter cos it isnt. I made that mistake when I moved here and was shocked that I was scraping ice off my car windscreen several times last winter! In fact its due to be below freezing this weekend according to the forecast

The health card (I've forgotten what its called now, but it used to be the E111) covers emergencies only and it doesnt cover prescribed medication for over 1yr old, but maybe there are ways around that??????

Renting is easy, lots of rentals around and its a renters market so you can negotiate the prices. You usually will have to pay a months rent as a deposit and sign an 11 month contract. I know some very good agents, but you need to work out where you want to be. The whole of southern Spain has British comunities. You need to decide what else you need ie, near a good school, near to an airport....

Jo xxx

Hi Lillytree. You haven't mentioned how you will support your child and yourself in Spain.
Have you enough money to live on for six months, or do you intend to work, which won't be easy, as the unemployment rate is high. If you are thinking of relying on benefits, forget it. As you haven't worked here, you wouldn't be entitled to benefits. I think you and your child would only be entitled to emergency treatment, as we are as residents here, when we are in the UK. There is a lot to think about besides the weather.
CD

Originally Posted by lillytree

Hi all..I am really hoping you can help me out..its alot to ask but here goes.

I am from the uk and due to very personal reasons..one being my child has cystic fibrosis, I would like to move to Spain or at least spend a good 6 months there. It would be ideal for me to do this especially during the cold spells here in the uk.

I need to know lots of things as I have no clue. Ok ..I need to know the climate in spain..I need a very dry enviorment as its very good for my daughters chest..so where would you suggest.

I also would need to be central to shops and most of all a good hospital.

How long would I be allowed to go to Spain for..I mean for a long holiday..and would I be covered for my daughters health care? I have one of those eu cards (medical) but not sure if this would cover.

Next question is renting propertys could you recommend any good estate agents.

I also would like to be near a close knit british community just for the mere fact this would help me settle easy ..also should anything go wrong. I am learning spanish very slowly.

Sorry for all the questions ..but really hope you can help me out

regards lillytree

lilly, you are an Eu citizen, ergo you can stay here as long as you want.Your wee girl's medical condition will give you problems,I suggest that you get as much info from the Spanish embassy ( your 1st port of call for info) your insurance company(2nd port of call for info) An air ambulance can be financially crippling, though everyone here would hope it would never be needed. I have to say that your "want"to be close to a "close knit British community" may be an error in judgement and I would advise against getting into such a crowd. this is spain and if you need help in an emergency, you want a native speaker. Someone who will be able to communicate with the paramedics, not someone who think that if you shout loudly enough in English they can get through that she has a breathing problem and constipation is not the problem.
Pickthe area that you want to go to and then find a translator a good one.
Having been an expat for 15 years, i have found that expats,who form "a close knit community"are more self centred than a gyroscope and about as helpful as a rattle with the snake still attached .

Having said that, you find everyone here more than willing to help and please feel free to ask anything that might help you

Willlie

Hi Lillytree-- I agree with the last two posts.I'm a retired-still work occassionally physio--and I would have thought it would be very difficult to manage a child with CF here with no proper health cover.The climate is not always helpful to chest conditions--too hot in the summer and can be cold and damp in the winter.Few people have central heating--just gas fires and open fires or woodburners. I guess schooling would be difficult for a child with CF and you would probably have no paediatric support networks around you to help in crisis.To give you an idea of health cost- I had a anti-histamine injection for a wasp sting on my eye about 5 years ago before I had my health care sorted--it cost me 60 euros.That was my fault because I was not organised-but what it would cost to hospitalise a child in an emergency would be a lot.
If you do move here then good luck and I hope your daughter does well.

Thanks guys your information is greatly recieved. I was planning to just have a very long holiday. I can support myself and would not have to work. I was really shocked to find your scrapping ice off your car Jo..wow thanks for letting me know..about that one.

Its very hard to know what to do..I am really only doing this for my daughter to give her a better quality of life ...I guess I need to think more especially about the health side of things. I home school my child due to her CF so school would not be a huge issue..Her health plays the bigger part.

I think I will go for a holiday even if its a few weeks ..If any of you have anything more to add I would be very greatful. As regards to keeping away from an expat community..yes I can understand what you mean..shame us Brits have a bad reputation. I appreciate what you are saying so yes thanks for your advice.

Thankyou all once again..

Lillytree

I hope you can do this to give your wee girl a nice holiday,and I'm sure that all the other people here echo the same thought

If I can help in any way don' t hesitate to ask.

Originally Posted by lillytree

Thanks guys your information is greatly recieved. I was planning to just have a very long holiday. I can support myself and would not have to work. I was really shocked to find your scrapping ice off your car Jo..wow thanks for letting me know..about that one.

Its very hard to know what to do..I am really only doing this for my daughter to give her a better quality of life ...I guess I need to think more especially about the health side of things. I home school my child due to her CF so school would not be a huge issue..Her health plays the bigger part.

I think I will go for a holiday even if its a few weeks ..If any of you have anything more to add I would be very greatful. As regards to keeping away from an expat community..yes I can understand what you mean..shame us Brits have a bad reputation. I appreciate what you are saying so yes thanks for your advice.

Thankyou all once again..

Lillytree

Dont give up on your plans tho. A long holiday would be fun for both you and your daughter. I assume you have her CF under control to a point and I think most Brits over here given your circumstances would all rally round and help. IMO if Brits are nothing else, they ARE compassionate!

But I think the summers here, altho lovely and warm, can be very dry and dusty, which may cause a problem and the winters, as I've said can be very wet and cold (We're actually "rained in" this morning cos the river at the end of our road has burst its banks spectacularly and we cant get out!). But if you can pinpoint an area with a good all round climate or come durting the "spring/autumn" months and are prepared, I think its a lovely idea. I dont know too much about CF altho a friend of mine from long ago had a daughter who suffered with it. I remember she used to have to tip her upside down and bang her back twice a day, plus she used to have to take alot of enzyme medication, but apart from that her little girl was a normal, happy and friendly little thing and even managed normal school!!

Anyway, I hope we've helped a bit and I'm sure if you want any more info or help, we'll endeavour to give it as best we can

Jo (from a very wet Málaga!!!) xxxx