Hospitals and Dental Offices with some English Proficiency
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Which hospitals and Dental Offices around Portugal have doctors and dentists with some English speaking capability, especially in the Lisbon and Porto region? I was surprised that a hospital that I visited to ask questions had to really scramble around to find any person that spoke some English, although my Portugese speaking skills were starting to improve. I also visited a dental office in Lisbon that had difficuly with English. I subsequently wrote to the dental office in e-mail during early 2024 as they suggested and I did not receive a response.
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Hi @GCOMM Thanks for your question!
We’ve checked in with Glenda Cole, our expert in Portugal to get an answer to your question. This was her response,
In the Algarve, pretty much all private docs speak English. In Lisbon and Porto, it requires a bit of research on their websites to find a doctor that speaks English.
If you are moving to Portugal, you want to research a general practitioner who speaks English. They will then refer you to any specialists you need, keeping in mind that you need an English speaker.
My doctor is South African. She speaks better English than I do.
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Hi GCOMM, for 20 yrs of my career I worked and lived short term and traveled in Italy, Spain, France, and China. And I only spoke English and Spanish so medical needs, especially accident or emergency care communication was a serious worry for me! Here is what I did that worked well, hope it helps you. I made a typed easy read 1 sheet 2 pages carry with me always english/chinese mandarin (one for each language) medical keywords Aid.
My ID/ US Psprt #/ critical meds info/ emergency contact/ was Top. Next Alphabetically keywords for pain/symptoms/body parts/ organs/ etc., each with the other language word(s) right next to it. Black type english, red type other language. This was also in my cell phone quick access full screen image of each page side.
I used it a few times and it literally was a life saver for me once and very helpful the other times. Each time those attending to me were very appreciative and incredibly supportive, quickly comfortable and fast in helping and treating me rather than seeking help or a translator while I anguished and waited. Last, I added and used cell phone based english/other language voice recognition and both display and audio output translation.
It worked but never perfect or accepted & trusted as the in hand paper one sheet piece.
All best wishes, Jay -
IL Moderator said:
Hi @GCOMM Thanks for your question!We’ve checked in with Glenda Cole, our expert in Portugal to get an answer to your question. This was her response,
In the Algarve, pretty much all private docs speak English. In Lisbon and Porto, it requires a bit of research on their websites to find a doctor that speaks English.
If you are moving to Portugal, you want to research a general practitioner who speaks English. They will then refer you to any specialists you need, keeping in mind that you need an English speaker.
My doctor is South African. She speaks better English than I do.
Thanks for the information about researching a general practitioner.