Stefano Bottelli

Review of A. O. "Istituto Ortopedico G. ...

I arrive at night with a suspected fracture, but t...

I arrive at night with a suspected fracture, but the doctor, a woman, definitely annoyed and pointing to her watch, asks me why I was not aware that "at night, we cannot have X-rays". At the traumatic emergency room, which reports "emergency trauma center" outside the entrance. And we are in Milan, in 2016.

I ask if they have crutches or if they know where I can get a pair, even outside. Instead of useful information, the answer is: "At this time?"

The kind doctor then greets me saying that, fracture or not, the toes cannot be cast, so I can also go home without knowing it. Consolante.

I paid two night taxis plus the hospital ticket to get me sent home rudely, without even a bandage or a painkiller.

Color note: while I wait to be visited, a limping English resurfaces from the bathroom of the waiting room, claiming to have fallen asleep 5 hours before. And nobody had seen him. Hunted without too many questions. Of course, the undersigned has had to do the translation in Italian because the staff of the center does not know a word of the English language.

I hope someone can benefit from my bad experience, read: if you can, go to a more serious hospital, with a structure that is more nourished, prepared, and kind.