Decision time
Same day
Consultation hours: 9am-7pm Mon-Fri, 12pm-6pm Sat-Sun
Launching soon. The Holiday Doctor is not yet open to patients. Everything below describes how the service will work once we go live.
Notify me at launchA doctor for the medication you forgot to pack.
Complete the online form to submit your medical consultation. Our doctor reviews it the same day, and may call or email you to confirm a clinical detail before deciding. If a prescription is appropriate, it is registered with Spain's electronic private prescription system (REMPe) and you receive a collection code by email. You collect by showing ID at any Spanish pharmacy.
Free initial assessment. You are only charged if a prescription is issued.
The process
Why The Holiday Doctor
01 / Doctors
UK- and Spain-registered GPs
Our doctors are registered in Spain (ICOMEM Madrid), the United Kingdom (GMC), Ireland (IMC) and Canada (CFPC), with specialty training in family medicine. Native English-speaking, with fluent Spanish.
02 / Pricing
Only pay if a prescription is issued
Free initial assessment. EUR 50 is charged only when our doctor approves and issues a prescription. If we decline, you pay nothing.
03 / Pharmacy
Valid at any Spanish pharmacy
Your prescription is registered electronically with REMPe; you receive a collection code by email and collect at any pharmacy across Spain, public or private.
Get started
Need a Spanish prescription?
Submit a brief consultation. Our doctor reviews it the same day. EUR 50 only if a prescription is issued.
Start a clinical review01 / Method
Asynchronous by design, with a real doctor in the loop.
No appointment to book. No waiting room. Submit when it suits you, hear back the same day within our consultation hours. Our doctor may call or email you to clarify a clinical detail before deciding - most consultations include some form of direct contact.
Prescription validity
Spain-wide
Electronic receta privada, dispensed at any pharmacy
Patient eligibility
Adults in Spain
18+, physically in Spain at time of request
02 / Scope
We are honest about our limits.
The scope is deliberately narrow. We do what we can do well and at speed. For everything else, we say so immediately and signpost you to better-placed care.
Repeat prescriptions of medication you already take
Evidence dated within 12 months: pack photo, prior prescription, GP letter, NHS app screenshot, or pharmacy record. Same medication, same dose only.
No prior evidence required
+Uncomplicated UTI in non-pregnant women
+Traveller's diarrhoea
+Hay fever and mild allergic reactions
+Insect bite reactions
+Mild fungal skin infections
+Cold sores
Requests in any of these areas are declined at no charge with signposting to alternative care.
−Under-18s, pregnancy, or breastfeeding
−Controlled drugs (for example, strong painkillers or sleeping pills)
−Mental health medication (some exceptions for ongoing antidepressants)
−Anything that needs a physical examination
−New conditions outside the list above
−Blood thinners and medications that need regular blood tests
−Weight-loss medication
−Emergencies
Sister service
Looking for help with weight management?
Weight-loss treatment is outside what we offer here, but it is the focus of our sister service. Nivelta is a private, doctor-led weight-management service for adults in Spain, also from Doctor Abbs SL.
03 / Guide
Getting medical help in Spain.
A plain-English guide to the Spanish healthcare system for travellers, expats, and anyone who needs a doctor in Spain - whether or not we can help directly.
GHIC / EHIC - UK
What you're entitled to
Medically necessary treatment at a Spanish public hospital or health centre, at the same cost as a Spanish resident (usually free). Does not cover repatriation, private care, or ongoing non-urgent treatment.
Where to go
Any Centro de Salud or Urgencias with your GHIC/EHIC and passport.
EHIC - EU citizens
What you're entitled to
Full access to Spanish public health facilities on the same terms as Spanish nationals. Present your EHIC at the Centro de Salud or hospital registration desk.
Where to go
Any public health facility. No referral needed for Urgencias.
Private travel insurance
What you're entitled to
Depends on your policy. Most cover emergency treatment; many also cover GP-equivalent consultations. Always call your insurer before presenting at a private clinic.
Where to go
Your insurer will direct you to a preferred clinic. Keep all receipts.
Expat - registered (tarjeta sanitaria)
What you're entitled to
Full access to the Spanish public health system, identical to a Spanish national. Your tarjeta sanitaria is your proof of entitlement.
Where to go
Your assigned Centro de Salud for non-urgent care. Any Urgencias for urgent care.
Expat - not yet registered
What you're entitled to
Emergency treatment at public Urgencias is always available. Routine public care is harder until you register. Private care is available to anyone who can pay.
What to do first
Register at your local Centro de Salud with NIE, proof of address, and passport.
Paying out of pocket
What you're entitled to
Any private clinic will see you on a self-pay basis. GP consultation typically EUR 50-120, private Urgencias EUR 150-300+ before treatment.
Where to go
Quirónsalud, HM Hospitales, and Vithas are the main private networks with English-speaking staff.
Primary care
Centro de Salud
The Spanish GP equivalent. Handles non-urgent conditions, repeat prescriptions, and referrals. Walk-in availability varies by region.
Non-urgent, ongoing, prescriptionsEmergency & urgent care
Urgencias
Located in hospitals and some health centres. Handles urgent but not life-threatening conditions. Free with EHIC/GHIC or tarjeta sanitaria.
Urgent conditions, out-of-hoursInpatient & specialist
Hospital
For serious conditions, surgery, or specialist treatment. You will usually arrive via Urgencias or be referred by a Centro de Salud.
Not for minor conditionsFinding your nearest facility
Search "centro de salud [your town]" or "urgencias [your town]" on Google Maps. Private network locators: quironsalud.es/en · hmhospitales.com · vithas.es
112
Pan-European emergency number
Single number for police, fire, and medical emergencies across Spain and all EU countries. English-speaking operators. Always free.
Call for:
- Chest pain or suspected heart attack
- Suspected stroke
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe bleeding or trauma
- Loss of consciousness
- Severe allergic reaction
- Any life-threatening situation
061
Spanish medical emergency line
Dedicated medical line connecting directly to a medical dispatcher. In some regions merged into 112 - 061 still connects but routes through the same centre. When in doubt, call 112.
Call for:
- Urgent medical situations needing clinical guidance
- When unsure whether to call an ambulance
- Medical emergencies not involving police or fire
Important
The Holiday Doctor is not an emergency service. If there is any possibility your situation is an emergency, call 112 immediately.
Always bring
Passport or national ID
Required at all facilities for identity verification.
Required at all facilities for identity verification.
EHIC or GHIC card
Present at admissions - always offer even if not asked.
Present at admissions - always offer even if not asked.
Travel insurance documents
Policy number and 24-hour emergency line.
Policy number and 24-hour emergency line.
Medication list
Generic (INN) names, doses, and frequency.
Generic (INN) names, doses, and frequency.
Allergy information
Drug allergies in writing are safest.
Drug allergies in writing are safest.
Bring if relevant
Prior prescription or pack
Most useful piece of evidence for repeat prescription requests.
Most useful piece of evidence for repeat prescription requests.
GP letter or referral
Speeds things up for specialist access.
Speeds things up for specialist access.
Tarjeta sanitaria
Required if registered with the Spanish health system.
Required if registered with the Spanish health system.
NIE
Often requested alongside tarjeta sanitaria.
Often requested alongside tarjeta sanitaria.
Payment method
Cards widely accepted; some smaller centres prefer cash.
Cards widely accepted; some smaller centres prefer cash.
At the desk
Necesito ver a un médico.
I need to see a doctor.
Tengo dolor aquí.
I have pain here.
Soy alérgico/a a...
I am allergic to...
Tomo estos medicamentos.
I take these medications.
¿Habla inglés?
Do you speak English?
Tengo tarjeta sanitaria europea.
I have a European health card.
Describing symptoms
Llevo [X días] con estos síntomas.
I have had these symptoms for [X days].
Tengo fiebre / náuseas / mareos.
I have a fever / nausea / dizziness.
Me cuesta respirar.
I am having difficulty breathing.
Necesito una receta para...
I need a prescription for...
¿Dónde está la farmacia más cercana?
Where is the nearest pharmacy?
Necesito esto para mi seguro.
I need this for my insurance.
Foreign prescriptions in Spain
EU Directive 2011/24/EU means prescriptions from any EU member state are legally valid in Spanish pharmacies. UK prescriptions are no longer automatically recognised post-Brexit but many pharmacists will dispense at their discretion.
The most useful thing is to bring the original pack with the pharmacy label. Spanish pharmacists can usually identify the medication and its equivalent.
If your prescription is European
- Take your prescription or pack to any Spanish farmacia.
- Ask if they can dispense it or find the Spanish equivalent (genérico).
- If not, ask for the nearest Centro de Salud or private GP.
- Or use The Holiday Doctor - we issue a Spanish electronic prescription valid at any pharmacy.
What to say at the pharmacy
¿Pueden dispensar esta receta extranjera?
Can you dispense this foreign prescription?
¿Tienen el equivalente español?
Do you have the Spanish equivalent?
Necesito la misma dosis.
I need the same dose.
¿Cuánto cuesta sin receta?
How much without a prescription?
Controlled medications
Spanish pharmacies cannot dispense controlled drugs on a foreign prescription. Contact your prescriber before travelling for a covering supply or letter.
EHIC / GHIC holders
What you pay
Public emergency and medically necessary treatment is free or at the same co-payment rate as Spanish residents.
Claiming back
If charged incorrectly, keep receipts and apply to the NHS Business Services Authority (UK) on return.
Travel insurance
What you pay upfront
Most policies require you to pay upfront and claim back. Call your insurer before attending a private facility.
Claiming back
Keep all receipts, prescriptions, and medical reports. Most insurers require original documents.
Typical private costs
Indicative prices (self-pay)
- Private GP: EUR 50-120
- Private Urgencias: EUR 150-300+
- Blood tests (basic): EUR 30-80
- Pharmacy prescription: EUR 5-30
- The Holiday Doctor: EUR 50 only if a prescription is issued
At the pharmacy
Prescription costs
Medications on a private prescription are paid in full. Generic equivalents (genéricos) are significantly cheaper and therapeutically equivalent.
Tip
Ask for the genérico - pharmacists are required to offer it if one exists.
Need a Spanish prescription for your medication?
If your medication is in scope, we can issue a receta privada the same day after a brief consultation - valid at any pharmacy in Spain.
04 / Credentials
A doctor registered in the UK and Spain at the centre of every decision.
Spanish registration
Colegiado, Madrid
Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Médicos de Madrid
UK registration
GMC registered
Specialty in family medicine
Irish registration
IMC registered
Specialty in family medicine
Canadian registration
CFPC registered
College of Family Physicians of Canada
Prescription delivery
Electronic via REMPe
Registered in Spain's electronic prescription system; collect at any pharmacy
Professional indemnity
Fully insured
Medical liability cover for private practice in Spain
Data protection
GDPR compliant
Doctor Abbs SL, EU-hosted
05 / About
Medical Director.
The Holiday Doctor is run by Dr Adam Abbs, a doctor registered in the UK, Spain, Ireland, and Canada, with specialty training in family medicine. A native English speaker from the UK, he is also fluent in Spanish, and has practised across all three jurisdictions.
Adam authored the Remote Consultations Handbook, accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners in 2020, and is a member of the World Organisation of Family Doctors' Working Party on e-Health. He is the sole prescriber for The Holiday Doctor at launch; consultations may, in time, be reviewed by other UK- and Spain-registered doctors in the team.
The Holiday Doctor is a trading name of Doctor Abbs SL, registered in Madrid.
Last reviewed: 31 May 2026
Reading
Practical guides for prescriptions, conditions, and the Spanish system.
Guide
How to get a private prescription in Spain
The full guide to public, private, and online routes - and how Spanish prescriptions work.
Read →Guide
How Spain's prescription system works
How Spanish electronic prescriptions work, and how you collect medication at any pharmacy.
Read →Guide
Travelling to Spain with prescription medication
What to pack, what to declare, and how to avoid problems en route.
Read →Scenario
Lost your medication on holiday in Spain?
First steps, when it is urgent, and your options for a Spanish prescription.
Read →Condition
Got a UTI on holiday in Spain?
Symptoms, when antibiotics help, and your options for a prescription.
Read →Condition
Hay fever in Spain - what's different here
Olive and grass pollen seasons, what helps, and when to escalate.
Read →06 / FAQs
Questions, answered.
Ready when you are.
Submit when it suits you, hear back the same day within consultation hours. No charge if a doctor declines.
Start a clinical reviewImportant. Adults physically in Spain only. Not an emergency service. For urgent or life-threatening symptoms, call 112. A prescription is not guaranteed. Requests are assessed by a doctor, and some medicines or situations require in-person care.