Should I call 112 or go straight to urgencias?

Call 112 for anything life-threatening, where an ambulance and paramedic care on the way matter. For urgent issues that aren't life-threatening, going directly to a hospital's urgencias department is usually the right choice.

Emergencies

Going to Accident & Emergency (Urgencias)

What to expect when you go to a Spanish hospital's emergency department (urgencias).

Last reviewed: 2026-06-15Wait times vary hugely depending on how busy the department is and how urgent your case is judged to be during triage.

This guide is not yet verified by Tuchati's editorial review — treat it as a helpful starting point, not a final legal answer.

Overview

Urgencias is Spain's hospital emergency department, equivalent to A&E — the right place for genuinely urgent medical issues that can't wait for a normal appointment but don't require calling 112 for an ambulance.

Requirements

Open to anyone needing urgent care, regardless of registration or insurance status

Step-by-step process

Go directly to the nearest hospital's urgencias department — no appointment or referral is needed
You'll be assessed shortly after arrival through a triage process, which prioritises patients by clinical urgency rather than arrival order
Provide your health card or insurance details at check-in if you have them, though treatment isn't withheld for lacking them
Wait to be seen — timing depends on how urgent your case is relative to others waiting, which can mean genuinely urgent cases are seen quickly while less urgent ones wait longer

Required documents

Health card or private insurance details, if available
ID, if practical to bring

Common mistakes

Going to urgencias for issues that could be resolved by a pharmacist or a normal primary-care appointment, adding to wait times for genuinely urgent cases
Being frustrated by triage-based waiting rather than first-come-first-served — this is standard practice and means the most urgent cases are seen first, not necessarily you

Practical tips

If your situation is genuinely life-threatening, call 112 for an ambulance rather than travelling to urgencias yourself
Public hospital urgencias departments in Spain are generally well-equipped and staffed — expect professional, thorough care even during a wait

How Tuchati can help

After an urgencias visit, if you're unsure about follow-up instructions or a discharge letter, Tuchati can help you understand next steps.