British Expatriates’ Experience of Health and Social Services on the Costa del Sol

Retirement migration is an important feature of the migration patterns to be found in Spain. Northern Europeans now form a substantial population in some coastal parts of Spain with the majority being older people - it has been estimated that about 80 per cent of the over 65 population in these coastal areas are Europeans (Misti et al 1995:161). They form a significant bloc of the migrant population in the country, being outnumbered only by Latin Americans and North Africans. Until recently there has been little research into north/south European migration and we lack firm data on the nature of migrants; such evidence as we have comes from casual observation, impressionistic newspapers reports and personal contacts (Warnes 1991; Champion & King 1993; Harbert 1993). Retirement migration in Spain is now being studied in greater depth and the research reported here is a contribution to the emerging policy debate. It is based upon Charles Betty’s 70 face to face interviews and 152 self-completion survey questionnaires in Benalmádena on the Costa del Sol. ¹