Spanish Outage Affects Health Services
The massive electricity outage on May 20th in Spain affected health services for both expats and Spanish citizens, with serious delays reported in regions such as Andalucía. The Andalusian Health Service (SAS) noted problems assisting patients trying to book routine appointments, although these could still be made via the Clic Salud app or website. Emergency departments remained operational thanks to backup generators, and hospital pharmacies were also able to use generated power to keep essential medications properly refrigerated.
Spanish health authorities say the incident has prompted them to prepare for future disruptions — from prescriptions and routine but essential treatments like dialysis to emergency surgery. Measures are being put in place to ensure that family medical clinics can communicate with central health authorities in the event of another power outage.
Australia Aged Care Act
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that one in six people living in Australia are currently aged 65 or over, and by 2048, this age group is projected to outnumber those aged 25 and under. Australia is part of what has been described as a ‘global megatrend,’ with many countries facing an increasingly ageing population. The country is now overhauling its aged care system — and if you’re an expat retiree living there, you may already be aware that services and support are changing in line with new legislation.
The new Australian Aged Care Act was originally set to take effect on July 1st, 2025, but has been pushed back to November due to concerns within the sector about insufficient preparation. Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, told the press that the new act is a ‘once-in-a-generation’ reform, and that key operational and digital processes must be finalised to avoid disruption to both care providers and service users. In a government statement, he said that:
‘…the new Act is transforming aged care laws to put the rights of older people first. It includes, for the first time, a Statement of Rights for older people and a Statement of Principles to guide how providers and workers must behave and make decisions. The Support at Home program, which supports older people to remain healthy, active and socially connected to their community, will commence with the new Act. Until then, the Commonwealth Home Support Program, Short-Term Restorative Care Program and Home Care Packages Program will continue to support older Australians who wish to continue living at home.’
The new act, which focuses on a rights based system for the elderly, is aiming to provide better care for residents in care homes, a single assessment system and better coverage for elderly people wishing to remain in their own homes. The Australian government has described it as ‘incredibly ambitious’ and says that it wants to get it right, hence the postponement.
The non-profit network Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) says that they’ve always advocated for a July rollout, but have come to realise that people have not had enough information to make informed choices on an individual level, so OPAN is now reluctantly supporting the postponement.
As an expat, you will be covered by the new legislation if you are over the age of 65. However, at present there is no age cap on Home Care Packages, nor are there any citizenship or residency restrictions.
Medics Warn Against New ‘Nimbus’ Covid Strain
Covid is surging again in the Far East, with cases of a new ‘Nimbus’ strain — a descendant of Omicron — recently detected. UK medics report that this variant is associated with a ‘razor blade’ throat and swollen glands, along with the usual symptoms of high temperature and fatigue. Thirteen British cases have been identified so far, and doctors are urging people to watch for these symptoms over the summer and take standard precautions. Virologist Professor Lawrence Young says it’s difficult to predict, but based on current evidence, a summer spike in Covid cases is likely.
If you’re in the UK and want to organise a Covid jab, you can do so if you’re over the age of 75. Free vaccinations are also available for those aged six months and over with weakened immune systems. Otherwise, check your eligibility with your local healthcare provider in your country of residence.
Spain Urges Expats to Donate Blood
Spain is calling on expats to donate blood, as trauma care, emergency and routine surgery, and chronic disease management all depend on a steady supply. However, recent surveys suggest that the expat community is significantly under-represented among blood donors. The Spanish Ministry of Health and the Red Cross report that only 4% of the national population donates blood regularly — and the figure is even lower among expats. Haematologist Dr. Elena Navarro told the press:
‘Immigrants and foreign residents are an essential part of Spanish society. There’s no medical or legal barrier stopping them from donating blood. But outreach must go further to ensure that all communities feel informed and encouraged to take part. Everyone living in Spain—regardless of nationality—can donate, and their contribution is equally valued.’
Spain’s overseas-born population now exceeds seven million — a significant potential pool of blood donors.
If you want to donate blood, these are the criteria below. You will need to:
- Be aged between 18 and 65 years
- Weigh more than 50 kilograms
- Be in good general health
- Present valid identification (passport, TIE, NIE, DNI, or EU identity card)
Men can donate up to four times a year and women up to three, with a required two-month gap between donations. Donations can be made at hospitals, Red Cross centres (Cruz Roja Española), mobile units, and local blood donation centres. However, if you lived in the UK for more than a year between 1980 and 1996, you are permanently excluded from donating due to a historic risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD).