NHS Medical Card

SIGNIFICANT OTHER

My wife and I are soon to tow our van to the Algarve, in Portugal via the Portsmouth to Santander ferry in the fourth week of August, for three weeks.  Has any member any experience of having to call on Spanish or Portugese health services with their EHIC
card?  My particular question concerns the need to have an NHS issued medical card as well as the EHIC card to avail oneself of such medical services, if needed.  My wife and I's Primary Care Trust, no longer issue such a card (although our NHS number is probabably
avilable to us).  Are there any members out there with such past medical experiences whom can inform with authority on the subject?