Hospitals & Medical Facilities in Tenerife

If you live on the island, you already know that Tenerife punches well above its weight when it comes to healthcare. For an island of roughly 900,000 permanent residents, the medical infrastructure is genuinely impressive, covering everything from major university hospitals to specialist clinics tucked into shopping centres in the south. Whether you’re a tourist who’s had a tumble on the Teide trail, a new resident trying to register with the public health system, or a long term expat trying to figure out private insurance, this guide covers what you actually need to know.

In any emergency, call 112. Operators speak English, German, French and Spanish, and will coordinate ambulance, fire and police services.

Understanding the Two Tier System

Tenerife, like the rest of Spain, runs a two tier healthcare system. The public system (the Servicio Canario de Salud, or SCS) is genuinely good. Waiting times for non urgent procedures can be long, but emergency care is fast and the standard of treatment is high. The private sector fills the gaps, particularly for expats and tourists who want English speaking staff, shorter waiting times, or specialist consultations without a referral.

If you’re an EU resident, your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) or GHIC (for UK residents post-Brexit) gives you access to public healthcare under the same conditions as a Spanish citizen. You won’t pay for emergency treatment at a public hospital, but you may be billed for some services. Always carry your card.

If you’re a UK pensioner receiving a UK State Pension and you become resident in Spain, you’re entitled to free medical treatment through the Spanish system. You’ll need to register with the INSS (Instituto Nacional de Seguridad Social) and obtain your tarjeta sanitaria (health card). Once registered, you’ll be assigned a local health centre (consultorio) and a family doctor (médico de cabecera).

If you’re a resident, when you get your residencia, you’ll receive a plastic health card. Take it to your nearest public health centre to register and find out who your assigned doctor is.

Here’s an image to allow you to quickly reference all the facilities listed below in full:

The Public Hospitals

Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria

This is the big one. Candelaria, as everyone calls it, is the main public referral hospital for the whole of Tenerife and handles the most complex cases on the island. It sits on the eastern outskirts of Santa Cruz, just off the TF-1 motorway, and is easy enough to reach from most parts of the island. The A&E department has English speaking staff, which makes a real difference when you’re stressed and unwell. EHIC and Spanish Social Security cards are accepted. If you’re not covered, you’ll need to pay, but repayment plans are not offered, so make sure your travel or private insurance is in order before you need it.

• Address: Carretera del Rosario, 145, 38010 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Switchboard: +34 922 602 000
• Admissions/Hospitalisations: +34 922 602 010
• A&E: +34 922 602 135
• Type: Public
• English-speaking staff: Yes (A&E)
• EHIC accepted: Yes
• Experience with British nationals: Yes

Hospital Universitario de Canarias (HUC)

The other major public university hospital on the island, HUC sits in La Laguna, the historic university city just inland from Santa Cruz. It’s the teaching hospital affiliated with the Universidad de La Laguna and handles a huge range of specialisms. English speaking staff are available, and the hospital has solid experience dealing with British nationals. If you’re living in the north or northeast of the island, this is likely to be your main public hospital.

• Address: Carretera de Ofra, s/n, 38320 San Cristóbal de La Laguna
• Switchboard: +34 922 678 000
• A&E: +34 922 678 256
• Type: Public
• English-speaking staff: Yes
• EHIC accepted: Yes
• Experience with British nationals: Yes

Hospital San Juan de Dios

Run by the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God, this is a not-for-profit hospital that operates under a concerto (agreement) with the Canarian Health Service, meaning it functions partly within the public system. It has 127 beds, five major operating theatres, an ICU, an A&E department, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation services, and a full diagnostic imaging suite including 1.5 Tesla MRI, interventional radiology, and high resolution ultrasound. The hospital has over 350 staff across medicine, nursing and pastoral care. It’s been expanding its oncology services in recent years and is increasingly well regarded for complex surgical cases. Open Monday to Friday, 8am to 10pm.

• Address: Carretera Santa Cruz-La Laguna, 53, 38009 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Phone: +34 922 645 511 / +34 922 235 512
• Email: [email protected]
• Communications email: [email protected]
• Website: hsjdtenerife.sjd.es
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 10pm
• Type: Not-for-profit / partially public (concerto with SCS)

The Private Hospital Groups

The Hospiten Group

Hospiten is the dominant private hospital group on Tenerife and has been serving the island’s expat and tourist population for decades. They’re well known for having English-speaking staff across all their sites, and they have extensive experience dealing with British nationals and working with travel insurance companies. EHIC is not accepted at any Hospiten facility, so you’ll need private insurance or be prepared to pay directly.

Hospiten Sur (South Tenerife)

Known locally as “the green clinic” because of its distinctive green exterior, Hospiten Sur is the go-to private hospital for the south of the island. It’s well positioned between Los Cristianos and Las Américas and is the first port of call for most tourists and expats in the resort areas. The facility is substantial: 169 inpatient beds, 18 ICU beds, 5 operating theatres, 10 emergency rooms (including 2 dedicated paediatric emergency rooms), 29 outpatient clinics, a haemodynamics suite, a delivery room, and 29 dialysis stations.

• Address: Calle Siete Islas, 8, 38660 Playa de las Américas (Arona)
• Switchboard: +34 922 750 022
• A&E: +34 922 788 654
• Website: www.hospiten.com
• Type: Private
• English-speaking staff: Yes
• EHIC accepted: No
• Experience with British nationals: Yes

Hospiten Rambla (Santa Cruz de Tenerife)

The Hospiten group’s flagship in the capital. Located on the Rambla, one of Santa Cruz’s main boulevards, this is a full-service private hospital with English speaking staff and a long track record with British patients. Good for consultations and planned procedures if you’re based in or near the capital.

• Address: Rambla Santa Cruz, 115, 38001 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Admissions/Hospitalisations: +34 922 291 600
• Consultations: +34 922 534 240
• Website: www.hospiten.com
• Type: Private
• English-speaking staff: Yes
• EHIC accepted: No
• Experience with British nationals: Yes

Hospiten Bellevue (Puerto de la Cruz)

The north’s main private hospital option, Hospiten Bellevue is a university affiliated hospital in Puerto de la Cruz. It covers the whole range of medical and surgical services and is the natural choice for expats and tourists based in the north of the island.

• Address: Calle Alemania, 6, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz
• Switchboard: +34 922 368 822
• Website: www.hospiten.com
• Type: Private
• English-speaking staff: Yes
• EHIC accepted: No
• Experience with British nationals: Yes

Hospiten Tamaragua (Puerto de la Cruz)

Also in Puerto de la Cruz, Tamaragua operates as a complementary facility to Bellevue, handling admissions and certain specialist consultations.

• Address: Calle Agustín de Bethencourt, 30, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz
• Hospitalisations: +34 922 380 512
• Website: www.hospiten.com
• Type: Private
• English-speaking staff: Yes
• EHIC accepted: No
• Experience with British nationals: Yes

The Quirónsalud Group

Quirónsalud is Spain’s largest private hospital group and has two significant presences on Tenerife.

Hospital Quirónsalud Tenerife (Santa Cruz de Tenerife)

A full multidisciplinary private hospital in the capital. It’s worth noting that this facility does not have English speaking staff as standard, so if language is a concern, factor that in. EHIC is not accepted. No repayment plans are available, so private insurance or upfront payment is required.

• Address: Calle Poeta Rodríguez Herrera, 1, 38006 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Switchboard: +34 922 270 700
• A&E: +34 922 280 700
• Website: www.quironsalud.es
• Type: Private
• English-speaking staff: No
• EHIC accepted: No
• Experience with British nationals: No

Hospital Quirónsalud Costa Adeje (South Tenerife)

This is the Quirónsalud facility in the south, located in the San Eugenio urbanisation in Costa Adeje. Unlike the Santa Cruz branch, this one does have English speaking staff and has experience with British nationals, which makes sense given its location in the heart of the tourist belt.

• Address: Urbanización San Eugenio, s/n, 38660 Adeje
• Switchboard: +34 922 752 626
• A&E: +34 922 791 000
• Website: www.quironsalud.es
• Type: Private
• English-speaking staff: Yes
• EHIC accepted: No
• Experience with British nationals: Yes

Vithas Santa Cruz (formerly Hospital Santa Cruz)

Part of the national Vithas group, this private hospital in Santa Cruz covers all specialisms. It’s more geared towards Spanish speaking patients or those with a good command of the language, but it’s a well equipped hospital and worth knowing about if you’re in the capital.

• Address: Calle Enrique Wolfson, 8, 38006 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Switchboard: +34 922 534 722
• Lab (Megalab): +34 922 151 152
• Website: www.vithas.es/tenerife
• Type: Private
• English-speaking staff: No
• EHIC accepted: No

Hospital Parque (formerly Clínica Parque)

A private clinic in central Santa Cruz. It covers all general specialisms and is a useful option for consultations and planned procedures in the capital. There is also a second location for external consultations at Calle General Antequera (corner of Viera y Clavijo).

• Address (main): Calle Méndez Núñez, 40, 38002 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Address (external consultations): Calle General Antequera, 10 (corner of Viera y Clavijo), Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Phone: +34 922 274 400
• Type: Private
• English-speaking staff: Not confirmed
• EHIC accepted: No

Specialist Clinics and Medical Centres

Clínica Mirabell

A private clinic in Santa Cruz offering a range of specialist consultations and procedures.

• Address: Avenida El Mayorazgo de Franchy, 15, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Phone: +34 922 334 422
• Type: Private

Clínica Nivaria (Ophthalmology)

One of the most respected ophthalmology clinics on the island, with over 25 years of experience. Clínica Nivaria was the first non-public centre in Tenerife to perform a corneal transplant. They cover the full range of eye conditions: cataracts, glaucoma, myopia, presbyopia, retinal disease, oculoplastic surgery, dry eye, and paediatric ophthalmology. The team combines private practice with work in the public hospital network. They accept several major insurers including Adeslas, DKV and Sanitas.

• Address: Avenida Reyes Católicos, 25 (ground floor), 38005 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Phone: +34 822 027 777
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.clinicanivaria.com
• Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 9am to 9pm, Friday 9am to 3pm
• Languages: Spanish and English
• Insurance accepted: Adeslas, DKV, Sanitas
• Type: Private specialist (ophthalmology)

Miranza Clínica Muiños (Ophthalmology)

Part of the national Miranza ophthalmology network, directed by Dr. José Alberto Muiños, who trained at the prestigious Barraquer Institute in Barcelona. Facilities of over 1,000m² with advanced diagnostic and surgical technology. Locations in both Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Los Cristianos.

• Santa Cruz: Search “Miranza Clínica Muiños Santa Cruz” for current address and phone
• Los Cristianos: Search “Miranza Clínica Muiños Los Cristianos” for current address and phone
• Website: www.miranza.es
• Type: Private specialist (ophthalmology)

IVI Tenerife (Assisted Reproduction)

One of Spain’s leading assisted reproduction networks, IVI has been offering fertility treatments for over 30 years. They cover the full range of assisted reproduction options for couples with fertility issues, single women, and female couples. The Tenerife clinic is headed by Dr. Javier Domingo. Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 1:30pm and 2:30pm to 6pm.

• Address: Avenida Reyes Católicos, 13, 38005 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• General enquiries (national): +34 960 451 185
• Website: ivi-fertility.com/clinics/tenerife
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 1:30pm and 2:30pm to 6pm
• Type: Private specialist (assisted reproduction / fertility)

Centro de Mama de Tenerife (Breast Pathology)

The first specialist breast pathology centre in the Canary Islands. Their focus is early detection and accurate diagnosis of breast cancer. They carry out the necessary diagnostic procedures on-site so that patients leave with either a clear result or a histological diagnosis, avoiding unnecessary delays.

• Address: Calle San Miguel, 13, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Phone: +34 922 249 987
• Type: Private specialist (breast pathology / oncology)

Instituto Proctológico Dr. Padrón (Proctology)

The reference centre for proctology in the Canary Islands, with a location in La Laguna (Tenerife) and another in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. They have treated over 50,000 patients across the region and specialise in diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the anus and rectum.

• Address: La Laguna, Tenerife (contact for exact address)
• Website: Search “Instituto Proctológico Dr. Padrón Tenerife” for current contact details
• Type: Private specialist (proctology)

Centro Neurológico Antonio Alayón (Neurology)

Based in Tenerife, this centre focuses on the comprehensive care of patients with chronic brain pathologies and neurological conditions including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, stroke rehabilitation, and traumatic brain injury.

• Type: Private specialist (neurology)
• Contact: Search “Centro Neurológico Antonio Alayón Tenerife” for current address and phone

Ginefem (Gynaecology and Obstetrics)

A private gynaecology and obstetrics clinic with over 10,000 successful gynaecological procedures. Specialises in comprehensive women’s health across all life stages, from routine gynaecological care to obstetrics and gynaecological cosmetics.

• Type: Private specialist (gynaecology and obstetrics)
• Contact: Search “Ginefem Tenerife” for current address and phone

Clínica Bonome (Hair Transplantation and Aesthetic Medicine)

A leading centre in the Canary Islands for hair transplantation and conservative hair loss treatments in both men and women, as well as aesthetic medicine using advanced laser technology.

• Type: Private specialist (hair transplantation / aesthetic medicine)
• Contact: Search “Clínica Bonome Tenerife” for current address and phone

Obesidad Tenerife (Dr. Iván Arteaga) (Bariatric and Laparoscopic Surgery)

Specialist in advanced laparoscopic surgery, accredited by the Spanish Society of Obesity Surgery (SECO). Dr. Arteaga has performed over 1,000 laparoscopic procedures including bariatric surgery, gallbladder removal, gastroesophageal reflux surgery, hernia repair, and colorectal procedures.

• Type: Private specialist (bariatric and laparoscopic surgery)
• Contact: Search “Obesidad Tenerife Dr. Arteaga” for current address and phone

Diagnostic and Laboratory Services

Eurofins LGS Megalab

The largest private medical laboratory network in the Canary Islands, founded in 1988, with 35 centres across the islands. They offer blood testing, analysis and diagnostics to the highest standards of quality and privacy.

La Laguna

• Address: Calle Obispo Rey Redondo, 49, 1st floor, 38201 La Laguna
• Phone: +34 914 202 205
• Hours: Monday to Friday 7:30am to 1pm, Saturday 7:30am to 10am

La Orotava

• Address: Avenida Sor Soledad Cobián, 16, 38300 La Orotava
• Phone: +34 922 326 069
• Hours: Monday to Friday 7:30am to 12pm, Saturday 7:30am to 10am

Puerto de la Cruz

• Address: Calle Valois, 47 (corner of Calle La Hoya), Puerto de la Cruz
• Phone: +34 914 202 205
• Hours: Monday to Friday 7:30am to 3:30pm

Los Cristianos

• Address: Calle Barranquillo, 2, 1st floor, 38650 Los Cristianos
• Phone: +34 922 793 551
• Hours: Monday to Friday 7am to 2pm, Saturday 7am to 10am

La Rosa (Santa Cruz)

• Address: Calle La Rosa, 12, 1st floor, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Phone: +34 914 202 205
• Hours: Monday to Friday 7am to 6pm, Saturday 7am to 11am

Excellent Medical

A network of private medical centres spread across the south of the island, useful for general consultations and minor treatments in the resort areas.

Playa de las Américas (CC Playa)

• Address: Calle Londres, s/n, Local Bloque 102, CC Playa de las Américas
• Phone: +34 922 712 055

Playa de las Américas (CC La Niña)

• Address: Avenida de España, 9, 2nd floor, CC La Niña, PU19
• Phone: +34 654 318 919

Arona

• Address: Avenida Juan Carlos I, 8, Arona
• Phone: +34 922 798 226

Puerto de Santiago

• Address: Avenida La Habana, Edificio Chayofita, Local 2, Puerto de Santiago
• Phone: +34 922 090 808

Additional south location

• Address: Avenida José Miguel Galván Bello, 10
• Phone: +34 922 737 560

Imaging and Radiology Centres

Resonancia Abierta La Cuesta (Open MRI)

Open MRI scanning facility, useful for patients who find enclosed MRI scanners difficult.

• Address: Carretera General Cuesta-Taco, 17, La Cuesta
• Phone: +34 922 650 004
• Type: Diagnostic imaging (open MRI)

Resonancia Abierta Tucán (Open MRI)

Another open MRI option, this one in the north of the island.

• Address: Calle Luis Rodríguez Figueroa, 4, Edificio Bellaterra, Puerto de la Cruz
• Phone: +34 922 384 346
• Type: Diagnostic imaging (open MRI)

Centro de Radiología San Vicente Ferrer

Radiology and diagnostic imaging centre in the capital.

• Address: Calle San Vicente Ferrer, 52, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Phone: +34 922 280 916
• Type: Diagnostic imaging / radiology

Diagnóstico Médico Santa Cruz

Medical diagnostics centre in Santa Cruz.

• Address: Calle Iriarte, 2, 1st floor A, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Phone: +34 922 245 551
• Type: Medical diagnostics

IRMO (Diagnostic Imaging)

• Address: Calle Torre Cano, 10, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Phone: +34 922 245 245
• Type: Diagnostic imaging

Practical Tips for Getting Healthcare in Tenerife

Farmacias (Pharmacies): Look for the green cross. Pharmacists in Spain are highly trained and can advise on and dispense a wide range of medications that would require a prescription in the UK. There’s always at least one farmacia de guardia (duty pharmacy) open 24 hours in each area. The rota is posted in the window of every pharmacy.

Consultorios: These are the local public health centres, the first point of contact for non-emergency care if you’re registered with the public system. Every municipality has at least one. You’ll be assigned a médico de cabecera (GP) who will refer you on to specialists as needed.

Private Insurance: If you’re a resident, private health insurance in Spain is genuinely affordable compared to the UK or US. Major providers operating on the island include Adeslas, Sanitas, DKV, Mapfre, Caser and Asisa. Many expats take out a policy to avoid public waiting lists for non-urgent procedures while still using the public system for emergencies.

Language: In the south of the island, most private clinics and hospitals have English speaking staff as a matter of course, given the volume of British and Irish residents and tourists. In the north and in Santa Cruz, it’s more variable. The public hospitals have translation services available, but it’s always worth asking in advance if you need an English speaking doctor.

Ambulance: Call 112. The island has a well-organised emergency medical service (SAMU) and response times are generally good, even in more rural areas.

Always verify contact details and opening hours directly with the facility before visiting, as these can change. This guide is for informational purposes and does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement of any specific facility.