This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.
The discussion in another thread has spurred me to complete this list, that I hope will clarify some point on the subject
RESCUE PHONE NUMBER: The rescue/emergency call number for the entire Italian territory is 118. The call is toll free.
LANGUAGE: When you call 118, whatever the location, there MUST always be someone at the call centre speaking reasonably competent English. In the Aosta Valley area the call operator and the members of the rescue team MUST speak Italian and French. In the Alto Adige area the call operator and the members of the rescue team MUST speak Italian and German.
WHAT TO SAY WHEN CALLING RESCUE: Remember to identify yourself. You must also specify the type of intervention you’re asking for – if it’s a mountain rescue, you must ask for the mountain rescue service! In Aosta Valley, Piemonte, Lombardia, Trentino Alto Adige and Fiuli, this will more or less taken for granted, but in other areas (Lazio, Sicily etc) you risk being sent the Fire Brigade. If the person to be rescued is in an awkward location, you must specify it, and the 118 is responsible for sending you the appropriate personnel.
THE RESCUE: Very important: unless this may put them in danger, the medical team MUST reach the person to be rescued, and NOT vice versa. If the person to be rescued is in a dangerous or inaccessible place, and the 118 has not already provided for this, it’s a specific responsibility of the rescue team leader to call for appropriate support (guides, Fire Brigade, or whatever). The key term here is “unless this may put them in danger” – the safety of the medical team is law mandated, but the 118 or the team leader are still responsible for the successful conduct of the rescue!
MEDICAL TREATMENT: If the team leader decides you need medical attention, they will take you to the nearest available ER (“Pronto Soccorso”), and assign you a colour coded priority (the so called “Triage”, white the least urgent up to red for the desperate). The speed of your admission will be based on your code. For instance, if you’re “green” (typical for not serious traumas) you may wait a bit. If you refuse hospitalization, you’ve the right to do that, but they will ask you to sign a disclaimer.
Quality of the medical treatment in the ER is normally good, but may vary from area to area. Big urban areas in the north (Turin, Milan, Genova, Bologna etc) have normally the best facilities – for instance, Turin has one of the best trauma centres of Europe (the Centro Traumatologico). As for provincial zones, Aosta is also very good, and so is Bergamo, Trento, etc. In general, touristy areas will have decent to good facilities. Hospital in smaller, less frequented centres can be more problematic, but nevertheless you will rarely find uncooperative or downright incompetent staff.
At the ER you’ve the right to ask for the assistance of at least one member of the staff speaking English. Be patient, as language barrier or not, they will do their best to help you. Access to the medical facility is regulated, so who’s to be cured will get in, while any friend/relative will have to stay in the waiting room.
After being stabilized, the patient may be discharged or transferred to the treatment ward. Again, quality of medical care there may vary, but is normally good, and, in some case, outstanding. Despite what a lot of people thinks here, the Italian healthcare system is one of the best things of this country.
In general, paramedics and nursing personnel, especially on “frontline” wards like the ER, reanimation, cardiology, etc will do their best to make you feel comfortable. Medics sometimes may be not exactly friendly, but they still will be professional (and they MUST be so). A general survival rule in Italian hospitals is to be patient and understanding, but serious on affirming your rights (especially your right to be well informed!). In general, you will be treated as you treat the others, and courtesy is always a good policy. But don’t let anyone push you around. Remember, you have the right to get ALL medical information you may need, as you have the right to be thoroughly informed on the bureaucratic part.
CHILDRENS: Most hospitals have a children ward, but the best treatment for anyone under 14 (that’s the definition of “children” here) it’s in specialized children hospitals. Among the best are possibly the OIRM in Turin (nicknamed the “Regina”), the Gaslini Children Hospital in Genova, and the Ospedale Bambino Gesù in Rome. While kids are being cured, one relative or tutor may be present, except in sterile areas. Again, if transferred to a regular ward, the child can be assisted 24/7 by a relative or tutor (in fact, they will normally insist for someone to stay with the kid).
HOW MUCH WILL YOU PAY? Until recently, mountain rescue was free on the whole Italian territory, no question asked. Starting from 2002, this now varies from area to area. Administrative units like Aosta Valley or Trentino may now charge for the rescue (up to 750€ per hour) if the person to be rescued isn’t in need of medical care or in danger of life, and will definitely charge you (and you may be denounced!) if you fake an emergency to get a free ride. In other words, if you’ve insisted on dragging your vertigo-suffering girlfriend up the ferrata of the Dalmazzi hut, and now she insists on calling rescue because she panicked and can’t go back down, your holiday is going to cost you a lot more than planned!
If the team leader decides you don’t need rescue, he can flatly refuse it and leave to your own devices. It happens rarely, but it happens. On the other hand, rescue for medical reasons is absolutely mandatory, notwithstanding nationality, insurance status, etc.
In Piemonte and in other areas rescue is still free of charge, but again, don’t call them just to avoid a long walk down a mountain, or you may be denounced for “procurato allarme”, a rather serious charge.
As UK citizen, you’ve the right to receive the same medical treatment as any other EU citizen, with the usual E111 covering the costs. However, for minor problems/injuries you may be asked to pay a “ticket” for X rays or analysis or ER treatment. This will normally cost your 40 € or more, and can be paid with credit cards or cash. There are specific “Yellow Points” where you may pay (sort of ATM in reverse!), or internal bank desks. And while we’re on this, no one has the right to ask you cash during rescue or in the hospital. Money can be exchanged exclusively through the above mentioned “ticket” procedure.
Of course, you may want to get a private consult with some specialist. This will cost you, and should be covered by an extra insurance. Some doctor perform private consult directly inside the hospital (the so called “intra moenia”).
RESCUE PHONE NUMBER: The rescue/emergency call number for the entire Italian territory is 118. The call is toll free.
LANGUAGE: When you call 118, whatever the location, there MUST always be someone at the call centre speaking reasonably competent English. In the Aosta Valley area the call operator and the members of the rescue team MUST speak Italian and French. In the Alto Adige area the call operator and the members of the rescue team MUST speak Italian and German.
WHAT TO SAY WHEN CALLING RESCUE: Remember to identify yourself. You must also specify the type of intervention you’re asking for – if it’s a mountain rescue, you must ask for the mountain rescue service! In Aosta Valley, Piemonte, Lombardia, Trentino Alto Adige and Fiuli, this will more or less taken for granted, but in other areas (Lazio, Sicily etc) you risk being sent the Fire Brigade. If the person to be rescued is in an awkward location, you must specify it, and the 118 is responsible for sending you the appropriate personnel.
THE RESCUE: Very important: unless this may put them in danger, the medical team MUST reach the person to be rescued, and NOT vice versa. If the person to be rescued is in a dangerous or inaccessible place, and the 118 has not already provided for this, it’s a specific responsibility of the rescue team leader to call for appropriate support (guides, Fire Brigade, or whatever). The key term here is “unless this may put them in danger” – the safety of the medical team is law mandated, but the 118 or the team leader are still responsible for the successful conduct of the rescue!
MEDICAL TREATMENT: If the team leader decides you need medical attention, they will take you to the nearest available ER (“Pronto Soccorso”), and assign you a colour coded priority (the so called “Triage”, white the least urgent up to red for the desperate). The speed of your admission will be based on your code. For instance, if you’re “green” (typical for not serious traumas) you may wait a bit. If you refuse hospitalization, you’ve the right to do that, but they will ask you to sign a disclaimer.
Quality of the medical treatment in the ER is normally good, but may vary from area to area. Big urban areas in the north (Turin, Milan, Genova, Bologna etc) have normally the best facilities – for instance, Turin has one of the best trauma centres of Europe (the Centro Traumatologico). As for provincial zones, Aosta is also very good, and so is Bergamo, Trento, etc. In general, touristy areas will have decent to good facilities. Hospital in smaller, less frequented centres can be more problematic, but nevertheless you will rarely find uncooperative or downright incompetent staff.
At the ER you’ve the right to ask for the assistance of at least one member of the staff speaking English. Be patient, as language barrier or not, they will do their best to help you. Access to the medical facility is regulated, so who’s to be cured will get in, while any friend/relative will have to stay in the waiting room.
After being stabilized, the patient may be discharged or transferred to the treatment ward. Again, quality of medical care there may vary, but is normally good, and, in some case, outstanding. Despite what a lot of people thinks here, the Italian healthcare system is one of the best things of this country.
In general, paramedics and nursing personnel, especially on “frontline” wards like the ER, reanimation, cardiology, etc will do their best to make you feel comfortable. Medics sometimes may be not exactly friendly, but they still will be professional (and they MUST be so). A general survival rule in Italian hospitals is to be patient and understanding, but serious on affirming your rights (especially your right to be well informed!). In general, you will be treated as you treat the others, and courtesy is always a good policy. But don’t let anyone push you around. Remember, you have the right to get ALL medical information you may need, as you have the right to be thoroughly informed on the bureaucratic part.
CHILDRENS: Most hospitals have a children ward, but the best treatment for anyone under 14 (that’s the definition of “children” here) it’s in specialized children hospitals. Among the best are possibly the OIRM in Turin (nicknamed the “Regina”), the Gaslini Children Hospital in Genova, and the Ospedale Bambino Gesù in Rome. While kids are being cured, one relative or tutor may be present, except in sterile areas. Again, if transferred to a regular ward, the child can be assisted 24/7 by a relative or tutor (in fact, they will normally insist for someone to stay with the kid).
HOW MUCH WILL YOU PAY? Until recently, mountain rescue was free on the whole Italian territory, no question asked. Starting from 2002, this now varies from area to area. Administrative units like Aosta Valley or Trentino may now charge for the rescue (up to 750€ per hour) if the person to be rescued isn’t in need of medical care or in danger of life, and will definitely charge you (and you may be denounced!) if you fake an emergency to get a free ride. In other words, if you’ve insisted on dragging your vertigo-suffering girlfriend up the ferrata of the Dalmazzi hut, and now she insists on calling rescue because she panicked and can’t go back down, your holiday is going to cost you a lot more than planned!
If the team leader decides you don’t need rescue, he can flatly refuse it and leave to your own devices. It happens rarely, but it happens. On the other hand, rescue for medical reasons is absolutely mandatory, notwithstanding nationality, insurance status, etc.
In Piemonte and in other areas rescue is still free of charge, but again, don’t call them just to avoid a long walk down a mountain, or you may be denounced for “procurato allarme”, a rather serious charge.
As UK citizen, you’ve the right to receive the same medical treatment as any other EU citizen, with the usual E111 covering the costs. However, for minor problems/injuries you may be asked to pay a “ticket” for X rays or analysis or ER treatment. This will normally cost your 40 € or more, and can be paid with credit cards or cash. There are specific “Yellow Points” where you may pay (sort of ATM in reverse!), or internal bank desks. And while we’re on this, no one has the right to ask you cash during rescue or in the hospital. Money can be exchanged exclusively through the above mentioned “ticket” procedure.
Of course, you may want to get a private consult with some specialist. This will cost you, and should be covered by an extra insurance. Some doctor perform private consult directly inside the hospital (the so called “intra moenia”).
In reply to Luca Signorelli: Thanks Luca, excellent info. I'll just add that when Luca says reanimation for the name of one of the wards he means what we call Intensive care.
In reply to Luca Signorelli:
Luca, that's all really useful info. I wonder if UKC residents/correspondants in other foreign countries could do an equally useful synopsis.
VMT,
Steve
Luca, that's all really useful info. I wonder if UKC residents/correspondants in other foreign countries could do an equally useful synopsis.
VMT,
Steve
In reply to SouthernSteve:
Yeah, shouldn't be left just to disappear off the page.
Good call, Luca.
> (In reply to Luca Signorelli)
>
> Very useful - could this become a FAQ somewhere on this site.
>
> Very useful - could this become a FAQ somewhere on this site.
Yeah, shouldn't be left just to disappear off the page.
Good call, Luca.
In reply to Luca Signorelli: As an aside Luca, what insurance provider do you use?
In reply to Luca Signorelli:
Maybe this link to Swiss emergency services could be added as it seems they also have numbers that do not match up with the rest of Europe;
http://www.about.ch/various/phone_numbers.html
Maybe this link to Swiss emergency services could be added as it seems they also have numbers that do not match up with the rest of Europe;
http://www.about.ch/various/phone_numbers.html
In reply to Luca Signorelli:
Nice one. Just to add that 112 will work as well as 118.
If anyone wants similar done for Spain, I'm happy to do this, if Mick wants to make an article covering various countries.
Nice one. Just to add that 112 will work as well as 118.
If anyone wants similar done for Spain, I'm happy to do this, if Mick wants to make an article covering various countries.
In reply to Luca Signorelli:
Great and helpful information.
It's probably worth noting, though, that the E111 is no longer valid and people need to get an EHIC now to replace it.
Great and helpful information.
It's probably worth noting, though, that the E111 is no longer valid and people need to get an EHIC now to replace it.
In reply to SteveSBlake:
Advice to foreigners taken ill in Britain : "the NHS - avoid it at all costs"
> Luca, that's all really useful info. I wonder if UKC residents/correspondants in other foreign countries could do an equally useful synopsis.
Advice to foreigners taken ill in Britain : "the NHS - avoid it at all costs"
In reply to Iain Forrest:
If you are picked up on the Mont Blanc massif by the Italian rescue, you will be brought to the Aosta hospital. If your car is at Entreves, you are in for a big taxi bill!
If you are picked up on the Mont Blanc massif by the Italian rescue, you will be brought to the Aosta hospital. If your car is at Entreves, you are in for a big taxi bill!
In reply to Iain Forrest:
Absolutely yes, of course. Forgot to change that (I've been preparing this since a while)
> (In reply to Luca Signorelli)
> Great and helpful information.
> It's probably worth noting, though, that the E111 is no longer valid and people need to get an EHIC now to replace it.
> Great and helpful information.
> It's probably worth noting, though, that the E111 is no longer valid and people need to get an EHIC now to replace it.
Absolutely yes, of course. Forgot to change that (I've been preparing this since a while)
In reply to Caralynr:
The 112 will work, but in Italy it's actually a number for the Carabinieri (basically one of the type of police here), they will still take the call then forward you to the 118. Calling the 118 straight away will save some time.
> (In reply to Luca Signorelli)
>
> Nice one. Just to add that 112 will work as well as 118.
>
> Nice one. Just to add that 112 will work as well as 118.
The 112 will work, but in Italy it's actually a number for the Carabinieri (basically one of the type of police here), they will still take the call then forward you to the 118. Calling the 118 straight away will save some time.
In reply to Luca Signorelli:
I might add a few things coming from my experiences on the Italian alps...
Especially during the sky season, the mountain rescue teams are very very busy: during these periods they will get really angry if someone calls them for little or no reason. In such situations do expect them to charge you as much money as the law permits and even press charges of "procurato allarme" as Luca already said.
The fact is, by calling rescue teams where they have no business you direct precious resources where they have nothing to do, delaying thir other interventions where they really should be.
So, if you just get lost for example, you might want instead to call the local Mountain Guides and ask for help finding your way home. This of course if there are no health concerns, injuries etc etc.
I have personally seen helicopter rescue teams called to assist somebody who was a 20 minutes away from a ski-hut, with absolutely no injury. They just felt it was a little bit too cold and had taken the rescue helicopter for their personal taxi. In these circumstances the bill won't be nice.
On the other hand, if the emergency is serious, I have also seen the rescue team really do whatever necessary to get you back safely, including the helicopter pilot doing increadibly dangerous manouvers to rescue rock and ice climbers from a wall, and then flying them directly to quite far hospitals in order for them to get the best treatment possible, all this completely free.
Which leads to another point. Many foreign tourists are often victims of predatory private medics and clinics located in the major mountain towns. I can safely say that no matter where you need medical treatment in the alps, you can fully trust the public system. These private medics rely on the fact that people in need of medical attention (and maybe with painful conditions) might be tempted to pay whatever amount of money just to get immediate "private" services.
Not only it will cost you a boatload of money, but often the quality of the service will be lower than what a public hospital could grant. Sure, you will avoid maybe a 20-minutes wait, but it's totally not worth it.
If there is anything that really works in the Italian healthcare system, that must be the mountain rescue and mountain medicine departments of hospitals in the alps. You really won't get a better service going private.
Anyway, as usual the best thing to do is to ask the locals when you arrive, so to know what to do before you actually need anything.
I might add a few things coming from my experiences on the Italian alps...
Especially during the sky season, the mountain rescue teams are very very busy: during these periods they will get really angry if someone calls them for little or no reason. In such situations do expect them to charge you as much money as the law permits and even press charges of "procurato allarme" as Luca already said.
The fact is, by calling rescue teams where they have no business you direct precious resources where they have nothing to do, delaying thir other interventions where they really should be.
So, if you just get lost for example, you might want instead to call the local Mountain Guides and ask for help finding your way home. This of course if there are no health concerns, injuries etc etc.
I have personally seen helicopter rescue teams called to assist somebody who was a 20 minutes away from a ski-hut, with absolutely no injury. They just felt it was a little bit too cold and had taken the rescue helicopter for their personal taxi. In these circumstances the bill won't be nice.
On the other hand, if the emergency is serious, I have also seen the rescue team really do whatever necessary to get you back safely, including the helicopter pilot doing increadibly dangerous manouvers to rescue rock and ice climbers from a wall, and then flying them directly to quite far hospitals in order for them to get the best treatment possible, all this completely free.
Which leads to another point. Many foreign tourists are often victims of predatory private medics and clinics located in the major mountain towns. I can safely say that no matter where you need medical treatment in the alps, you can fully trust the public system. These private medics rely on the fact that people in need of medical attention (and maybe with painful conditions) might be tempted to pay whatever amount of money just to get immediate "private" services.
Not only it will cost you a boatload of money, but often the quality of the service will be lower than what a public hospital could grant. Sure, you will avoid maybe a 20-minutes wait, but it's totally not worth it.
If there is anything that really works in the Italian healthcare system, that must be the mountain rescue and mountain medicine departments of hospitals in the alps. You really won't get a better service going private.
Anyway, as usual the best thing to do is to ask the locals when you arrive, so to know what to do before you actually need anything.
In reply to Chrispy:
Hi Chris
Can't answer for Luca (obviously) but most people just join the C.A.I. (called S.A.T. if you live in Trentino) which must be about the best value insurance going - included in the normal membership fee. Your local Sassuolo C.A.I. are also quite active, I seem to recall.
> (In reply to Luca Signorelli) As an aside Luca, what insurance provider do you use?
Hi Chris
Can't answer for Luca (obviously) but most people just join the C.A.I. (called S.A.T. if you live in Trentino) which must be about the best value insurance going - included in the normal membership fee. Your local Sassuolo C.A.I. are also quite active, I seem to recall.
In reply to Gavin Taylor: Thanks Gavin, you about this weekend?
In reply to Simon4:
Good luck phoning BUPA if you have an accident or emergency...
> Advice to foreigners taken ill in Britain : "the NHS - avoid it at all costs"
Good luck phoning BUPA if you have an accident or emergency...
In reply to Gavin Taylor:
I didn't see Chris request before - a Gavin says, getting a CAI membership is probably the best general choice for those who want to be active in Italy's mountains.
However, as for me I've got insured through a private company, as for several reasons I don't want to have anything to do with the CAI. But it's a very personal choice, and definitely not done out of convenience!
> (In reply to Chrispy)
> [...]
>
> Hi Chris
> Can't answer for Luca (obviously) but most people just join the C.A.I. (called S.A.T. if you live in Trentino) which must be about the best value insurance going - included in the normal membership fee. Your local Sassuolo C.A.I. are also quite active, I seem to recall.
> [...]
>
> Hi Chris
> Can't answer for Luca (obviously) but most people just join the C.A.I. (called S.A.T. if you live in Trentino) which must be about the best value insurance going - included in the normal membership fee. Your local Sassuolo C.A.I. are also quite active, I seem to recall.
I didn't see Chris request before - a Gavin says, getting a CAI membership is probably the best general choice for those who want to be active in Italy's mountains.
However, as for me I've got insured through a private company, as for several reasons I don't want to have anything to do with the CAI. But it's a very personal choice, and definitely not done out of convenience!
In reply to Luca Signorelli:
Careful with those lexical "false friends", Luca.
"Convenience" in English is like italian "comodità" (rather than italian "convenienza"), meaning "it's easy".
I image you intend the italian sense of "cheapness" or saving money, so perhaps you mean: "definitely not for financial reasons".
("False friends" are real b*stards - I trip up all the time. Classic bloopers that Brits make is to think that "trivial" translates "triviale", or that "stupid" is exactly the same as "stupido" - in Italian it's much more severe. The list is endless)
> (In reply to Gavin Taylor)
> and definitely not done out of convenience!
Careful with those lexical "false friends", Luca.
"Convenience" in English is like italian "comodità" (rather than italian "convenienza"), meaning "it's easy".
I image you intend the italian sense of "cheapness" or saving money, so perhaps you mean: "definitely not for financial reasons".
("False friends" are real b*stards - I trip up all the time. Classic bloopers that Brits make is to think that "trivial" translates "triviale", or that "stupid" is exactly the same as "stupido" - in Italian it's much more severe. The list is endless)
This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.
Elsewhere on the site
Loading Notifications...