Emergency on Mallorca - What to Do? Numbers, Hospitals, First Aid

An emergency on Mallorca can be stressful, but knowing what to do makes everything much easier. Make sure you have a valid Tarjeta Sanitaria and know how to find a doctor. This guide covers the exact steps, numbers and hospitals you need.

Emergency Numbers and First Steps

There are three types of emergency numbers on Mallorca. All of them work, but memorise these:

Key numbers:

Number	What	When to call
112	General emergency (police, fire brigade, ambulance)	Emergency, not sure what to do
061	Ambulance line (Ambulancia)	Medical emergency
091	National police (Policía Nacional)	Crime, security
092	Local police (Policía Local)	Non-urgent problems

What you say (when the operator answers):

Whether your Spanish is good or not - say:

1. Your address/location:

   • "Calle [street number], Palma" - street and number
   • Or a landmark: "Al lado de la plaza de España" - next to the square

2. What happened (briefly):

   • "Accidente de coche" - car accident
   • "Herida grave" - serious wound
   • "Infarto sospechado" - suspected heart attack
   • "Pérdida de conocimiento" - loss of consciousness

3. Number of patients:

   • "Una persona" - one person
   • "Dos personas" - two people

Important: Give your number so they can call back if the connection drops.

Example call to 112:

Operator: "¿Cuál es tu emergencia?" (What is your emergency?)

You: "Soy alemán, hablo poco español. Accidente de coche en Calle Jaume I, 45, Palma. Una persona." (I am German, I speak a little Spanish. Car accident on Calle Jaume I, 45, Palma. One person.)

Operator: "¿Alguien está herido?" (Is anyone injured?)

You: "Sí, herida en la cabeza. Sangre." (Yes, head injury. Blood.)

Operator: "Vale, ambulancia llegará en 10 minutos." (OK, ambulance will arrive in 10 minutes.)

What Counts as an Emergency?

Call 112/061 immediately if:

• Unconsciousness
• Severe bleeding
• Suspected heart attack (chest pain, shortness of breath)
• Signs of stroke (paralysis, confused speech)
• Serious injuries (broken bones, deep wounds)
• Severe allergic reaction (breathing difficulty, swelling)
• Poisoning/overdose
• Severe burns
• Drowning or seizures

Drive yourself to Urgencias if:

• Moderate injuries (sprain, small wound)
• Persistent headache
• Stomach pain (not life-threatening)
• Suspected fracture (but not life-threatening)
• High temperature
• Nausea/vomiting

Call your GP or go to a Centro de Salud if:

• Cold, cough
• Small cuts or grazes
• Mild headache
• Non-urgent problems

Decision guide: Emergency or urgent?

Ask yourself:

1. Could this be life-threatening? YES: call 112
2. Is it bleeding heavily? YES: call 112
3. Can I not breathe normally? YES: call 112
4. Do I have unbearable pain? MAYBE: call 112
5. Am I unsure? Call 112 - better to be safe

Rule of thumb: If you are unsure, call 112. The dispatchers can assess the situation better than you can.

The A&E Department (Urgencias) - How It Works

When you arrive at A&E (whether by ambulance or your own means):

Process:

1. Arrival

   • You register at reception
   • Say: "Tengo una emergencia" (I have an emergency)
   • Give your name, passport, health insurance details

2. Triage (priority assessment)

   • A nurse quickly assesses your condition
   • They tell you how long the wait will be
   • Colour system:
     • Red: Life-threatening (treated immediately)
     • Yellow: Urgent (10-30 min)
     • Green: Urgent but not critical (1-3 hours)
     • Blue: Non-urgent (3-5+ hours)

3. Waiting

   • You sit in the waiting room
   • Respond when your name is called
   • (In Spanish or English)

4. Examination

   • Doctors/nurses examine you
   • They ask questions about your symptoms
   • Blood pressure, temperature, etc.

5. Treatment

   • First aid/treatment on the spot
   • Sometimes X-rays, blood tests
   • Possible admission to hospital

6. Discharge or admission

   • If stable: you are discharged (take your prescription)
   • If serious: you are admitted to hospital
   • Bills (if privately insured): you receive a receipt

Costs:

• With public health insurance: free
• With private insurance: the insurer usually pays; you may pay a co-payment

How long does it take in total:

• Simple emergency: 1-2 hours
• Complicated: 3-6 hours
• Serious: admission to hospital

Major Hospitals on Mallorca

Public hospitals (free public system):

1. Hospital Son Espases (largest, Palma)

   • Address: Carrer de Palladium, Palma
   • Phone: +34 971 592 000
   • A&E: 24/7, large departments
   • Specialises in: trauma, surgery, everything
   • Languages: Spanish, some English

2. Hospital Son Llàtzer (Palma)

   • Address: Carrer Mestre Josep Tous i Ferrer, Palma
   • Phone: +34 971 175 500
   • A&E: 24/7
   • Specialises in: general, regional care
   • Languages: Spanish

3. Hospital Comarcal (Manacor)

   • For the eastern part of the island
   • Address: Cami de Manacor
   • Phone: +34 971 847 000

Private hospitals (faster, more expensive):

1. Clínica Juaneda (Palma)

   • Address: Calle Miquel Ferrà, 4, Palma
   • Phone: +34 971 731 647
   • A&E: 24/7
   • Specialises in: modern centre, many languages (English, some German)
   • Costs: usually covered by insurance
   • Best for: expats, better communication

2. Clínica Rotger (Palma)

   • Address: Carrer Jaume Ferrer, Palma
   • Phone: +34 971 203 400
   • A&E: 24/7
   • Specialises in: high quality, English-speaking
   • Best for: quality and language

3. Policlínica Miramar (Palma)

   • Phone: +34 971 200 202
   • A&E: 24/7
   • Best for: dental and specialist emergencies

Which hospital to choose?

Public (free, standard hours):

• Son Espases (best infrastructure)
• Or the nearest available

Private (faster, more expensive):

• Clínica Juaneda (best for German/English speakers)
• Clínica Rotger (high quality)

Recommendation for expats:

• Try public first (free)
• If the wait is too long: go to Juaneda (private)
• Insurance usually pays (claim afterwards)

Private Emergency Alternatives

If the public A&E is too busy:

Private hospitals:

• Clínica Juaneda (see above)
• Clínica Rotger (see above)
• Costs: 100-500 EUR depending on the problem
• Insurance usually reimburses you

Emergency phone numbers (if you want to drive yourself):

• Clínica Juaneda A&E: +34 971 731 647
• Clínica Rotger: +34 971 203 400
• Say it is an emergency - they will prepare a room

First Aid Basics

If it is a genuine emergency and the ambulance has not arrived yet:

Unconsciousness:

1. Check whether the person is breathing
2. If not: start chest compressions
3. Press 100-120 times per minute in the centre of the chest
4. If possible: get a defibrillator (public places have them)

Bleeding:

1. Apply pressure with a clean cloth
2. Hold for 10-15 minutes without looking
3. If it keeps bleeding: place a new cloth on top (do not remove the old one)
4. Elevate the leg if possible
5. Call 112

Suspected heart attack:

1. Sit the person down
2. Loosen their clothing
3. Do not give them anything to eat or drink
4. Call 112 immediately
5. Give aspirin if available

Injuries:

1. Do not move the person (the spine may be injured)
2. Keep them warm (blanket)
3. Speak calmly to reassure them
4. Call 112

Allergic reactions:

1. If an EpiPen is available: use it according to the instructions
2. Lay the person down, raise their legs
3. Call 112
4. Remove the allergen source if possible

After the Emergency - What Comes Next?

After you have been treated:

Immediately after discharge:

1. Take all documents/prescriptions with you
2. Ask about follow-up appointments
3. "¿Necesito volver?" (Do I need to come back?)
4. Ask about costs: "¿Cuál es el coste?" (How much does it cost?)

With public insurance:

• Free, no bill
• Tell your GP about the emergency later
• Make a follow-up appointment with your GP

With private insurance:

• Ask: "¿Cubierto por seguro privado?" (Covered by private insurance?)
• Give your insurance number
• You will receive a receipt for the insurer
• The insurer usually pays directly

Follow-up doctors:

• Make an appointment with your GP
• Show them the medical report
• Carry out follow-up tests if necessary

Psychological aftermath:

• If it was traumatic: talk to your GP
• Psychotherapy can help (with private insurance: usually covered)

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Summary - what you need:

1. Remember: 112 or 061 (save it in your phone)
2. Know your health insurance and carry your Tarjeta Sanitaria with you
3. Know where the nearest hospital is (Google Maps)
4. In Palma: Juaneda or Son Espases
5. In an emergency: stay calm and call immediately
6. Afterwards: take care of the follow-up

You will not be left alone - Spain has very well-trained emergency teams.