Compensation claim for harm in public healthcare (your CCAA)

What you need at hand

1. Cl@ve, certificado digital o DNIe to submit online.
2. Historia clínica and discharge/ER reports for the episode.
3. Clear dates: when it happened, when you were discharged and when the sequelae became stable.
4. Evidence and expenses: invoices, prescriptions, tickets, sick leaves.
5. If you act for someone else: poder apud acta (Apodera) or a representation document.

Documentation

• Escrito de reclamación: facts, centres involved, damage, causal link and an indicative amount. Put your email and phone.
• Identification: DNI/NIE (and the representative's if applies).
• Historia clínica completa: admissions, ER, operating rooms, consent forms.
• Reports or tests that support the damage (X‑rays, blood tests, etc.).
• Informe pericial médico (not mandatory, but very useful).
• Expenses: invoices and receipts (travel, medication, orthopaedics…).
• Family link if you file for someone else (libro de familia, tutela, death certificate).

Step by step

1. Get the historia clínica. Download it from your health folder (e.g.: Cataluña https://lamevasalut.gencat.cat, Andalucía https://www.sspa.juntadeandalucia.es/servicioandaluzdesalud/ciudadania/clicsalud, Madrid https://www.comunidad.madrid/servicios/salud/carpeta-salud). If they delay, request it in writing from the hospital.
2. Draft the escrito. Recipient: Servicio de Salud or Consejería de Sanidad of your CCAA. State facts, damage, causal link and ask for an amount (even if provisional). Date and sign.
3. File in the REC: https://rec.redsara.es/registro/action/are/acceso.do with Cl@ve/certificado. Select the Servicio de Salud/Consejería as the órgano. Attach PDFs. Tamaño máximo por archivo: ojo con los límites del REC.
4. Representation: if you don't sign yourself, create the power in Apodera (https://apodera.redsara.es/apodera/) and attach the receipt. You can also do presencial apud acta, but online saves trips.
5. Keep the receipt. Note the CSV and download the acuse. Activate DEHú (https://dehu.redsara.es) for notifications.
6. Respond to requerimientos within 10 days hábiles. If they ask you to better quantify or provide docs, do it on time.
7. Wait for the resolución. Legally it's 6 months. If it doesn't arrive, silence is negative. Decide whether to appeal in alzada (if applicable) or go to contencioso.

Tips that save you time

• Don't push the one‑year limit: requesting the historia clínica does not stop the clock. File with the basics and add later.
• Attach an index of documents (1, 2, 3…). Makes it easier for them and avoids "we can't find it" answers.
• Pericial early: if you can, get a medical expert opinion from the start. It avoids rejection for lack of causal link.
• Correct órgano: always to Servicio de Salud/Consejería. Sending to the hospital usually ends in filing.
• DEHú active: without it you'll miss notifications and deadlines.

Common mistakes that can ruin your case

1. Filing out of time (over 1 year). They will archive it without looking at the substance.
2. Only asking for “apologies” and not giving a quantified claim. Put a cuantía, even provisional.
3. Not proving representation when you sign for a relative. Apodera or poder apud acta are mandatory.
4. Uploading blurry screenshots. Use readable PDFs. If the file is heavy, compress it.
5. Addressing it to the hospital. They are not competent.
6. Not answering requerimientos. You usually have 10 days and failing that can stall or close the case.