Working in Barcelona

[fisio1]

I am planning to move to Barcelona in the near future. I was wondering if anybody has experiences of working out there? I would be happy to hear about your experiences. Thanks in advance.

Similar Threads:

[zoequeally]

Hello,

I am a Physio currently working in Barcelona. It is pretty tricky...it really depends what area you'd be interested in working in, how much experience you have etc. Feel free to mail me some more details and I'll help if I can.

Zoe
zoepq@hotmail.com
0034687033017

[ubucca]

Hi there,

I also interested in moving to Barcelona to work there as a physio. I am currently working for the NHS and I have experience and most areas of Physiotherapy but I would like to keep working in a hospital setting. Any advise?

Thanks in advance.

Regards

Natalie

[zoequeally]

Hi there,

I also interested in moving to Barcelona to work there as a physio. I am currently working for the NHS and I have experience and most areas of Physiotherapy but I would like to keep working in a hospital setting. Any advise?

Thanks in advance.

Regards

Natalie

The CSP has an useful document on working in spain so I suggest you contact them. Then, get in touch with the colegio de fisioterapeutas de Catalunya, to find out the red tape for converting your Physio degree. Be aware that, in my opinion, the spanish qualification isnt nearly as well rounded as in the UK. Also physios in spain do NOT have autonomy. It is a very doctor lead profession. I have chosen not to enter the spanish healthcare system and therefore work independently. However if you'd like to stay hospital based you will have to go through the red tape. Apparently it can be done but will take some time so get all wheels in motion as soon as possible. Hope this helps, good luck. Also please forward any info you get from the colegio to me...i get enquiries like this all the time! Thanks zoe@fisiopluspilates.com

[ubucca]

Thanks Zoe for the prompt reply. I am actually Spanish but I have been overseas for 6 years already so I am quite disconnected from Spain and I am also curious about how overseas Physios are managing to practise in Spain.

It is true that the assessment skills and the clinical reasoning of the Spanish Physios are not as up to date as here in the UK since as you well said, the Medico Rehabilitador is on top of us limiting our automony. Hopefully it will change in the future but it is a sensitive subject.

I am looking to move back to sunny Spain but the jobs in Private Practises are quite badly paid and working in hospitals is hard if you don't have Catalan level C. It is really good that you have managed to open your own practise and have learnt all the terminology in Spanish as well as the language it self. I have been done the opposite and it is not easy!

Let me know if you have any other advise.

Have a nice day. I am sure is not as cold in BCN as it is here in London!

[zoequeally]

Yes, it is still nice here in BCN as usual, but as you are probably aware working here can be frustrating especially as a foreigner. Catalan is fairly easily learnable if you are fluent in spanish, and even easier if yo have french or portuguese aswell. Once again, good luck, and get in touch if you do move here, its always nice to meet people here in the same profession. Perhaps we can help each other in the future.

Saludos de BCN

Zoe

[beabonet19]

Hi,

I am a catalan of 27 years old and I studied physiotherapy in 2000-2003. I worked in Barcelona in many places for more than 4 years and I would like to explain briefly my situation: I didn't have any contract (at all) all that time. No contract in any company. This means that I worked in "black" without social security and NO rights. I used to earn 20/30 euros per hour in a praxis but as people usually didn't show up the salary was not 20/30 but 10/15e hour. How can you live with so little money?

I can explain maaaaaany anecdotes... even worse...

I am sure my professional experience was not the same as the rest of the people, there must be places where you can have a decent salary, but let me say that in 2007 I tried again to look for a good job without success until I left my profession...

So, Barcelona is good place for doctors, engineers, IT, but not for physios...

Let me know is you want more info.

Good luck!

[chrisphysio]

I'm a UK physio and have been qualified 13 years and work in musculoskeletal.

I'm interested in moving to Spain to work in the private sector and set up my own clinic.

I've received the info from the CSP so far on 'Spain' but just wondered how hard it was to get started through all the red tape.

I'd be looking to start in an area where there's lots of expats to allow me time to improve on developing my Spanish - the CSP mention there can be a good market in areas where there are expats as they tend to look for British physios.

One of my concerns is regarding autonomy. Are you allowed to treat patients independantly or must the referral come from a Doctor?

Any help/links would be much appreciated

Chris