ELS-0013Healthcare · Canary Islands

What should be included in a Canary islands expat medical file?

Official sources checked
Written by Sue Berry
Practical guidance

An expat medical file brings together the health information doctors, emergency services and trusted family members may need if you become ill in the Canary Islands or cannot speak for yourself.

The Quick Answer

An expat medical file in the Canary Islands should contain a clear summary of: Your medical conditions

Current medication and doses

Serious allergies and previous reactions

Your Tarjeta Sanitaria or private insurance details

Your local health centre and doctor

Emergency contacts in the Canary Islands and abroad Communication, mobility and language needs

Recent hospital reports and test results

Advance healthcare instructions

Information about who can enter your home or care for pets if you are admitted to hospital

The most important information should fit onto a one-page emergency summary at the front of the file.

Supporting reports and documents can then be kept behind it or stored securely online.

The Canary Islands public health system also provides access to digital health services through miSCS and miHistoria.

These may contain information recorded by Servicio Canario de la Salud health centres and hospitals, including medication, allergies, vaccinations, active diagnoses, test results and clinical reports.

Why This Matters

Living abroad can make a medical emergency more complicated.

The doctor treating you may not have access to records held in the UK or another country.

Your family may not know the names of your medicines, which health centre you attend or whether you are treated through the public or private system.

There may also be: Language difficulties

Family members living several hours away by plane

Pets or a partner needing support at home Locked properties or gated communities Important records held in another country

A possible transfer to a hospital on another island

A well-organised medical file gives everyone a clear starting point.

It does not replace your official medical records, but it helps people know what to say, who to contact and where to look.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to include my complete medical history? No. Begin with the information most likely to affect emergency treatment. Your main conditions, medication, allergies and contact details should be immediately visible. Older records can be stored in a separate supporting section.

Will a Canary Islands doctor be able to see my NHS records? Do not assume so. Records created by the NHS, a private UK provider or another country may not automatically appear in the Canary Islands health system. Keep copies of important diagnoses, operation details, consultant reports and current medication information.

Should my medical file be translated into Spanish? A short Spanish emergency summary can be extremely helpful. You do not necessarily need to translate every historical document. Prioritise: Main diagnoses Medication Allergies Previous serious reactions Communication needs Emergency contacts Use a qualified translator where the exact meaning is medically or legally important.

Should I include my blood group? You may include it if it has been medically confirmed. Do not guess. A hospital will normally carry out its own checks before giving blood, so information written in a personal file should not be treated as the only evidence.

Can my family access my miHistoria account? They should not assume that they can. The account contains confidential health information and is protected by identity and access requirements. Rather than sharing passwords, obtain advice about appropriate representation, consent or legal authority.

Should I include my GHIC or EHIC? Include the details if you are an eligible visitor or use the card when travelling. For someone permanently living in the Canary Islands, the main healthcare evidence may instead be a Spanish Tarjeta Sanitaria, S1-based registration or private medical insurance. Individual entitlement depends on personal circumstances.

What should I do if I take controlled medication? Keep: A current prescription The medicine in its original packaging A doctor’s letter where required The generic name of the medicine Information about any travel restrictions Requirements can vary between countries and medicines, so check before travelling.

What is a Manifestación Anticipada de Voluntad? It is the Canary Islands’ formal system for recording advance healthcare wishes. It can help healthcare professionals and family understand your wishes if you are no longer able to communicate or make decisions yourself. The Government of the Canary Islands maintains a register for these documents.

Important — Read Before You Act

Important Warning This guide is intended to help people organise their personal medical information.

It does not replace medical, legal or insurance advice.

Healthcare entitlement in the Canary Islands depends on individual circumstances, including residency, employment, pension status, S1 registration, public healthcare registration and private insurance. In a serious emergency, call 112. Do not delay medical assistance while looking for documents.

What To Do — Step by Step

Create a one-page emergency medical summary Place a clearly labelled emergency summary at the front of your file. Include: Full legal name Date of birth NIE number Passport or TIE number Home address Municipality and island Telephone number Preferred language Emergency contact Main medical conditions Serious allergies Current medication Healthcare or insurance details Name of your local health centre Communication or mobility needs Date the summary was last updated Keep it clear and easy to scan. A doctor should not have to read through a large folder to find your most important information.
Record your Canary Islands healthcare details Record the healthcare arrangements that apply to you. This may include: Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual number Your CIP health identification number Name and address of your assigned health centre Name of your médico de familia or médico de cabecera Local pharmacy Hospital or specialist clinic Private health insurer Insurance policy number Emergency assistance telephone number S1 registration information Details of any travel or repatriation insurance The Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual is normally used to help people access services provided through Spain’s National Health System. The miSCS service also offers a virtual health card and access to digital SCS services.
List your medical conditions and important history List all diagnosed medical conditions using the names given by your doctor. Include: Current conditions Previous major illnesses Important operations Heart attacks or strokes Diabetes Epilepsy Breathing conditions Kidney or liver conditions Mental health conditions relevant to your care Dementia or memory difficulties Implanted devices, such as a pacemaker Ongoing hospital treatment Any condition affecting communication or decision-making You do not need to include every minor illness you have ever had. Focus on information that could affect your treatment.
Create an accurate medication list For every medicine you take regularly, record: Brand name Generic or active ingredient Strength Dose Time it is taken Why it is taken Who prescribed it Where it is normally supplied Any special storage instructions Remember to include: Tablets Injections Inhalers Creams Patches Eye drops Regular pain relief Vitamins or supplements Medicines taken only when needed Medicine brand names can differ between countries, so including the active ingredient can help Spanish doctors and pharmacists identify the correct medication.
Record allergies and previous reactions List any known allergies or serious sensitivities, including: Medicine allergies Food allergies Latex allergy Reactions to anaesthetic Contrast-dye reactions Insect-sting allergies Where possible, describe the reaction. For example: Penicillin — caused swelling and difficulty breathing. This is more useful than simply writing “allergic to penicillin”.
Add doctors, hospitals and emergency contacts Record contact details for: Local health centre Médico de familia Hospital consultant Private doctor Dentist Pharmacy Health insurer Emergency assistance provider Family member in the Canary Islands Trusted neighbour or friend Family member in the UK or another country Use full international telephone numbers, including the country code. Also record: Whether the person speaks Spanish How quickly they could reach you Whether they have a key to your property Whether they know where the medical file is kept Whether they are caring for your partner, pets or home
Add communication and language information An emergency is not the easiest time to explain complicated medical information in another language. Record: Your preferred language How well you speak Spanish Whether you understand medical Spanish Hearing or sight difficulties Speech difficulties Cognitive or memory problems Whether you need an interpreter The name of a bilingual contact Any communication method that works best for you Prepare a short Spanish version of your emergency medical summary where possible. The Servicio Canario de la Salud includes miTradassan, a translation aid intended to support healthcare communication with people who do not speak Spanish. However, a prepared summary remains valuable, particularly when explaining complex conditions. Useful Spanish phrases Necesito una ambulancia. I need an ambulance. No hablo bien español. Hablo inglés. I do not speak Spanish well. I speak English. Tengo una alergia grave a… I have a serious allergy to… Tomo estos medicamentos. I take these medicines. Mi historial médico está en esta carpeta. My medical information is in this folder. Mi contacto de emergencia es… My emergency contact is…
Make it easier for emergency services to find you Record your address in enough detail for someone unfamiliar with the area to locate you. Include: Street address House or apartment number Urbanisation or complex Municipality Island Nearest landmark Gate or entry instructions Floor and lift information Location of a key safe, where appropriate Name of someone with a spare key What to do if pets are inside The official 112 Canarias app can send the phone’s location when GPS permissions are enabled. It also includes a non-voice emergency option using icons, text chat and the ability to send photographs or video, which may help people who cannot speak during an emergency.
Include recent medical documents Your fuller medical file may contain copies of: Recent medical summaries Hospital discharge letters Consultant reports Blood-test results Scan reports Treatment plans Repeat prescription information Vaccination records Details of medical devices Letters concerning controlled medication Relevant UK medical records Professionally translated reports The Canary Islands’ miHistoria service may show information recorded within Servicio Canario de la Salud facilities. However, records originating in the UK, another country or a private medical service may not all appear there, so keeping important copies is sensible.
Record arrangements for hospital admission or island transfer Your medical file should also explain what needs to happen if you are admitted to hospital unexpectedly. Record: Who can enter your home Who will care for your partner Who will feed or collect your pets Who can bring clothes and personal items Who can accompany you to appointments Where your passport and TIE are stored Your travel and repatriation cover Who should be contacted if treatment is on another island Details of any mobility equipment you need Where a prepared hospital bag is kept This is especially important for people whose nearest family members live in the UK.
Record your digital healthcare access Add a note explaining whether you use: miSCS miHistoria Cl@ve A digital certificate A private healthcare app An online pharmacy or prescription service Do not put passwords or security codes in the medical file. Instead, record: Which service you use What information it contains Where secure access instructions are stored Who can help you use it Whether your digital identity details are current The Servicio Canario de la Salud requires an appropriate identity method to access protected digital health information
Record advance healthcare wishes The Canary Islands has a formal advance healthcare instruction system called Manifestaciones Anticipadas de Voluntad, usually shortened to MAV. A MAV can record instructions concerning future healthcare, treatment, end-of-life decisions and organ or tissue donation for a time when a person can no longer express their wishes. It may also name a representative. Your medical file should state: Whether you have completed a MAV The date it was completed Whether it was registered Where a copy is kept The name of any representative Who knows that it exists
Store the information safely but accessibly Consider keeping: A one-page emergency summary at home A copy in your hospital bag Emergency information on your phone A secure digital version A copy in your Legacy Vault Kit A sealed copy with a trusted local person A note telling family where the fuller records are stored The emergency summary should be easy to find. The fuller medical records should be stored more securely.
Review your file regularly Review the file: Every six months Whenever medication changes After a hospital admission After a new diagnosis When you change doctors When your insurance changes When you move home When an emergency contact changes Write the review date prominently on the first page.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Keeping a large collection of medical documents without a clear emergency summary at the front.
Listing medicine names without doses or active ingredients.
Leaving discontinued medication in the file.
Assuming UK medical records will automatically be visible to a Canary Islands doctor.
Keeping the only copy on a locked phone or computer.
Forgetting to include the full property address and access instructions.
Assuming family members can automatically access confidential medical records.
Relying on a GHIC or EHIC as permanent resident healthcare cover. A GHIC or EHIC is intended for eligible, medically necessary state healthcare during temporary stays. It does not replace travel insurance and does not normally cover private treatment or medical repatriation.
Using an automatic online translation for complex medical information without checking it.
Telling someone a file exists but not showing them where it is kept.

Your Action Checklist

Create a one-page emergency medical summary.
Add your full address, municipality and island.
Record your NIE, TIE and passport details.
Add your Tarjeta Sanitaria or insurance information.
Record your local health centre and doctor.
List your diagnosed medical conditions.
Check all medication names, doses and active ingredients.
Record serious allergies and previous reactions.
Add local and overseas emergency contacts.
Record who has access to your home.
Explain who would care for your partner or pets.
Add any communication or mobility needs.
Prepare a short Spanish medical summary.
Add recent hospital and consultant reports.
Record whether you use miSCS or miHistoria.
Store digital access instructions securely.
Download and configure the 112 Canarias app.
Record whether you have completed a MAV.
Keep a paper copy somewhere accessible.
Store a secure digital copy.
Tell a trusted person where the file is kept.
Add the date the file was last reviewed.
Set a reminder to review it every six months.

In Summary

A useful expat medical file should answer five urgent questions:

Who are you?

What medical conditions do you have?

What medication do you take?

Who should be contacted?

Where can fuller information be found?

For someone living in the Canary Islands, it should also include local healthcare details, Spanish-language support, an exact property location and practical instructions for looking after your home, partner or pets.

Sue’s final thoughts & experiences

A personal note from Sue Berry

Living in the Canary Islands means our families may not be just around the corner when something happens.

They may be in another country, unfamiliar with the Spanish healthcare system and unsure who to call or where our important information is kept.

A medical file is not about expecting the worst. It is about making sure the people helping us have the right information at the right moment.

A few clearly organised pages can remove a great deal of confusion and help everyone feel calmer when it matters most.