Hospital discharge report in Spain: what it says and what to do
Medically reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD
Licensed in Spain · Colegiado No. 484814280 · Medical College of BizkaiaLast reviewed: 12 November 2026
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A hospital discharge report (informe de alta) is the written summary you receive when you leave a Spanish hospital or emergency department. It explains why you were admitted, what was found and done, your diagnoses, the medicines to take and your follow-up plan. Spanish law gives every patient the right to one.
This guide, by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, a GP licensed in Spain, explains how to read it, why you should keep it and what to do in the days after you go home.
- Every patient leaving a Spanish hospital has the right to a written discharge report (informe de alta).
- It lists why you were admitted, the tests done, your diagnoses, the medicines to take and the follow-up plan.
- Keep the original: your GP, insurer, employer or a doctor abroad will ask for it.
- If anything is unclear, ask before you leave or have a GP go through it with you in English.
What is an informe de alta?
It is the official clinical report written by the hospital doctor at the end of your stay. Spain's patient rights law, Ley 41/2002, says every patient, or a family member, has the right to receive it when the care process ends. A national decree, Real Decreto 1093/2010, sets the minimum data every Spanish discharge report must contain, so reports from different hospitals follow a similar layout.
What does a Spanish discharge report contain?
- Motivo de ingreso: why you were admitted.
- Antecedentes: your past medical history and allergies.
- Exploraciones y pruebas complementarias: the examination, blood tests, scans and other tests.
- Evolución: what happened during your stay.
- Diagnóstico principal y secundarios: the main diagnosis and other conditions found.
- Procedimientos: operations or procedures carried out.
- Tratamiento al alta: the medicines to take after discharge.
- Recomendaciones y seguimiento: advice, warning signs and follow-up appointments.
Why should you keep the original?
Your GP needs it to continue your care. Insurers often ask for it before they pay a claim, and employers may ask for it to justify an absence. If you travel or move, a doctor in another country can use it to avoid repeating tests. Keep the paper copy, photograph every page and store a digital copy.
How can you read it if you do not speak Spanish?
Ask the ward doctor to explain the main points before you leave, especially any new medicines. Some private hospitals can give you an English version. A machine translation helps with the general sense, but medical terms and doses are easy to misread. A bilingual GP can go through the report with you and write a short summary in English.
What should you do in the first days at home?
- Collect the medicines on the report from the pharmacy. Electronic prescriptions from the public system usually appear on your health card.
- Compare the new list with the medicines you took before. Ask about anything that was stopped or changed.
- Book the follow-up appointments the report asks for, with your GP or the hospital clinic.
- Read the warning signs section and keep it somewhere visible.
When is the discharge report not enough?
If your symptoms change, the report may no longer reflect your situation. Ongoing pain, a new symptom, side effects from a medicine or questions about the diagnosis need a doctor to review you. For chest pain, trouble breathing, confusion, high fever or heavy bleeding, call 112.
How can an online GP help?
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera can read your discharge report in Spanish, explain it in English, check your medicines and plan your follow-up. Upload it through the patient portal and ask by eConsult, or book a video visit. See also medical documents for the reports and letters the practice can write. Related: prescriptions after a hospital stay.
This article is general information and does not replace an individual medical assessment. Written by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280).
Frequently asked questions
Do I have a right to a discharge report in Spain?
Yes. Spain's patient rights law (Ley 41/2002) gives every patient, or their family, the right to a written discharge report at the end of a hospital stay or emergency visit.
Is the discharge report in English?
Usually not. Public hospitals write it in Spanish, or in the regional language as well. Some private hospitals offer an English version if you ask.
Can I use a Spanish discharge report with my GP in the UK or Ireland?
Yes. Bring the original and, ideally, a summary in English of the diagnoses, medicines and follow-up. It helps your GP avoid repeating tests.
What if my medicines changed in hospital?
The report lists the treatment at discharge. Compare it with what you took before, and ask the hospital or a GP about any medicine that was stopped, started or changed.
I lost my discharge report. Can I get another copy?
Yes. Ask the hospital's patient care office (Atención al Paciente) or the medical records department. In the public system it may also appear in your regional health app.
Can an online doctor explain my discharge report?
Yes. Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, a GP licensed in Spain, can go through it in English or Spanish by eConsult or video and tell you what follow-up you need.
When should I go back to hospital after discharge?
Follow the warning signs written in your report. Chest pain, trouble breathing, confusion, high fever or heavy bleeding need urgent care: call 112.
Next step
- Incompetent Cardia: What It Means on Your Report
- Ovulation Symptoms, Discharge and Your Fertile Days
- Vaginal Discharge: Types, Colours and When to Worry
Need a doctor to assess your case? Video consultation with Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera.
Sources
This content is written and reviewed by a licensed physician with reference to the following sources.
