Tuesday, January 30, 2007

A WACKY WAITING ROOM

An hour ago, I had two protruberances of the kind you acquire with age - well, phooey, age, I'm not playing! - burned off my forehead, for the sake of fair vanity rather than health, I should add. This was a three- minute procedure but the waiting time was three hours!

However, the waiting room was great fun: everyone greets everyone else, which we wouldn't bother to do in Britain, being more inclined to just sit there like statues, then the newcomer ambles through to inform the nurse of his / her arrival. More salutations ensue when he / she returns to take a seat and of course we are also kept busy wishing a "buona sera" to all who come out of the doctor's room. So there is no time to read a book or a magazine, what with all this head-nodding and politeness!

Sicilians in general having more pazienza than us northern folk, no one seemed worried about the wait until about 8pm., at which juncture we all started asking each other what time our appointments had been made for. [Mine had been 5.15 pm!] Every now and then , the nurse would appear to call the next patient in or, more often, call someone for il controllo - a check-up on a previous procedure not requiring an appointment - and you gradually lost heart. At precisely 8.10 pm., a lady came in and announced that her appointment was for 8.15 and we all fell about laughing! So, after checking the waiting time with the nurse [which none of the rest of us had had the sense to do] she and her family sensibly repaired to the bar across the street.

Anyway, finally I was "in and done" and everyone was very kind and full of apologies for the delay. I've been here long enough now to be grateful once I am attended to and I have to say that once you are seen you are not in any way rushed, are encouraged to ask questions and you come away feeling that you have had very good care - which, indeed, you have.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hope you are feeling better. Three minutes in a hospital is enough for me, let alone three hours.

Completely off topic but what's the weather like in Sicily in February/March? We think we might have a spring break over there this year.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Thanks, Steve. I feel fine now. Feb/March is a very good time to come. The weather should [note my caution as you can never be sure!] be rather like an English spring, ie., lovely. Strangely, April is worse, with lots of cold winds. If you both come over, I would love to meet you.

Lee said...

It sounds like it was quite a social event...next time perhaps take an antipasti and some wine with you and make a party of it!

Nothing wrong with a bit of vanity...we all have it!

CityUnslicker said...

I like to hear baou the different experience in Sicily. You wrote this piece very well.

Colin Campbell said...

This reminds me of my many similar types of experiences during my years of conducting business in Asia. You just had to relax and not try to fight it. Enjoy the moment.

Shades said...

It sounds just like our local open surgery sessions- apart from the politenes, patience and banter!

Anonymous said...

That's the way it should be. Not the waiting, but the friendly folks.

Liz Hinds said...

Oh, I've got lots of those protuberances. Glad you whacked it to them good and proper. That'll teach 'em.

It does sound more like a party!

I am inclined to the no-appointment system that we used to have when I was growing-up. You knew you'd have to wait then but it was fine and you knew you'd see your own doctor (because it was a one-man practice). Now you have an appointment and still have to wait (though not quite as long as you seem to have to in Sicily!) and the doctor you see is probably just a locum passing through. Unless you book three weeks in advance.

Anonymous said...

You were obviously surrounded by great company and sound very cheerful about the whole procedure, I hope it all went well.

Btw, have you heard about Berlusconi and the public apology he has made to his wife for his flirting? And he is 70. Are all Italian men the same?

James Higham said...

Yes, I hope you're feeling better in this and also the tooth. Soon you'll be partying again.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Lee, what a good idea! I will !
Cityunslicker, I appreciate the compliment. CC, I agree: "Relax and enjoy the moment" sums it up. Hi, Ig., yes, the banter makes the occasion! A lot of people take their whole family with them, not for support in any pain in the procedure, but just to be sociable with everyone else! You are right, Steve. It's how it should be. Liz, I remember those times as well. You saw your own doc or at least a colleague of his whom you knew and you even got someone you knew on a night home visit, too. Sadly, those days have gone. Ellee, it went well only I can't go out in the sun for a day or two or put disguising make-up over the area - aaaargh! No, I haven't watched the Ital news tonight yet. Just about to do so. Slippery Silvio really is beyond, isn't he? I think most Ital men have an eye for a pretty woman, no matter what their age - or that of the woman, come to think of it. And they will let you know of their appreciation, too! You don't become invisible at 50, as you do in Britain. But I think the wives have mostly have got them well under control, really! Thanks, James, for your good wishes. The toothache turned out to be neuralgia and there's not much that can be done about that. I'm sure it was brought on by the Scirocco wind- it gets pretty draughty when you are hanging out washing on a high balcony! But all is getting better now. Coming over to your blog after supper. Lol to all.

Gracchi said...

Sorry Welshcakes didn't get to this till just now but a really good post- sounds like a cheerful environment to be waiting in- I always think that that helps- instead of sitting there like in teh UK and wondering about how your op is going to go. Good to hear it was alright too.

Maria said...

I love this story... I am sorry you had to wait but wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone was so friendly.

It would definately cure lonliness. I think.

All the best! ~M

PS. I have no idea why that crazy girl didn't marry Lory. What was she thinking? Really... I always wanted tobe Joe to till I found out she didn't marry Lory than I wanted to be Meg... she was so sweet!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Thanks, Gracchi. Yes, the company takes your mind off what is going to happen and cheers you up. You're right, M, it does help. To others reading this, M and I have had a discussion about "Little Women" on her blog. I, too went off Jo when she turned down Laurie but I don't think I wanted to me Meg. And I certainly never wanted to be Beth who was just too good! Vain Amy I'd have to be, then, after all, it was she who finally got Laurie! Update Ellee: I've read Silvio's flowery apology now. YOu have to hand it to him! I wouldn't be surprised if they planned it all between them, for publicity.

Anonymous said...

Glad you got through to be treated eventually! We do see our own GP every time as it is a small and friendly practice...that the powers-that-be want to either expand beyond recognition or (preferably, for them) close and send all the patients to another medical practice miles away. Modern Britain in the 21st Century.

The Sicilian patients live up to the definition.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, shirl. Why is it in Britain that when we have got something good, we have to go and change it? The Sicilian patients are patient, all right!

Ballpoint Wren said...

Damn all age-related protuberances, I say. Who said they could land on our faces, hmm?

I think I would like the Sicilian medical reception area, as I am naturally a talker. It's difficult for me to sit like a statue as I wait. I'm sure I annoy all the other patients.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Bonnie, you're right! We didn't give those things permission to be on our faces, did we?! I'm sure you cheer everybody up in the waiting rooms, as you do on your blog!

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