sylvester

While I'm not looking for trouble, I've ended up in hospitals in Europe a few times so I now always try to get some info beforehand. In Athens,Greece, I see that Central Clinic of Athens is a private hospital and it has all the depts. I could possibly need. It and Evangellismos, an old public hospital, seem to be nearest our hotel (Amazon Hotel, which is near Syntagma Sq). Can anyone provide any advice about either of these? I'm assuming the private hospital is more likely to have English-speaking doctors. Thank you.

Sassafrass

Can't offer advice, but it is an excellent idea to have this information ahead of time. I was also sick while traveling and lucked out with medical care, but it is best to have knowledge before hand. So, thanks for bringing it up.

Heimdall

Hi Sylvester,

Fortunately I've never had to use a hospital while travelling in Greece, but the US Embassy in Athens provides some references. In this link look for "Medical, Legal, and Other Resources:
http://athens.usembassy.gov/informat...travelers.html

HappyTrvlr

I have had to use both government, called National hospitals, and a private one in Greece. No comparison! I needed an ER, bad cuts from barbed wire, so was sent to govt hospital in one city and several other ones in other towns/ cities as I traveled about to change my bandages. Finally got to a private hospital in Chania, Crete. The basic difference in the private hospital from the govt hospital: no bloody rags and bandages overflowing garbage bins, a clean cover on examining table not one stained with other patients' body fluids, no cats and kittens running around exam room. Not kidding.
The National hospital MD did stitch me up and I was thankful for her efforts but the ER room was beyond filthy. Charge was €3. RX was €8. My Greek friends use private hospitals.

sylvester

HappyTrvlr, your experiences are mind boggling. The public hospitals I went to in Paris and Venice did not meet my own standards for hospital cleanliness but were not nearly as awful as yours! Yikes. In Venice, for example, I was using two pillows, and when they brought someone else into the other bed in the middle of the night, they gave her one of my pillows without changing the pillowcase. In Paris, there was a little blood here and there. I've typically been told that private hospitals are much better. Heimdall, I appreciate the suggestion but the US embassy lists provide no "insiders" experience and the one time I tried to contact a doctor from such a list, the phone # was no longer in service. I have no idea how up to date those lists are, whih is why I'm much more comfortable trying to get advice from someone who lives there or has experienced it.

HappyTrvlr

However, they did put me back together in the National Hospital. My arm looked like it had been through a meat grinder. The MD, a resident in OB, kept saying that they would think poorly of Greece in America when they saw her stitches on my arm. I encouraged her saying medicine started in Greece, you're the best, etc. And guess what? My arm healed beautifully. After having worked in hospitals with such strict precautions as far as disposal of anything with blood on it, it was very scary.

halfapair

Sylvester,

Thank you for posting your question. DH & I are planning a trip to Greece in 2017. Both of us have landed in the hospital on previous trips. DH was taken to the ER in Paris via ambulance, and I got a complimentary tour of the ER in Sydney, Australia on Christmas Day one year. Festive!

Now we always travel prepared. I just Googled "Central Clinic Athens" and found their website. It's in English and I have it bookmarked and saved in our Athens folder.

pookymimi

I'm planning a trip to Greece next year. HappyTvl how in the world did you get that injured?

I remember when I fell in Manarola and hit my head badly I ended up at the Hospital in La Spezia. I was laying on a bed on the hallway for about 3 hrs until a room in the ER opened.

I remember giving my kids my rings and necklace, while telling them to better get all my stuff in the event I had a stroke while alone, they were seated in a hot visitor room watching our suitcases. I was lucky enough my head was hard enough that I didn't get a clot and didn't die all alone, of course all my visit was free for being Latin and of Italian descent.

Michael

<i> all my visit was free for being Latin and of Italian descent.</i>

Unless it varies by region, emergency room treatment in Italy is free; it was for us in Sicily, with no Latin or Italian ancestors.

yiassas

Although out of the centre, Metropolitan Hospital is excellent, I have recently had reason to use it twice, once for a full MRI & then the emergency dept for an injection. This hospital is not far from my home.
A friend was also sent there some years ago, on holiday on Naxos, emergency stomach surgery needed, airlifted to Athens & their insurance company used this hospital. He still sings the praises of his treatment!
http://www.metropolitan-hospital.gr/en/
Another friend who lives very close to Evangelissmos has been there a number of times, all good experiences.
As far as I'm aware I don't think I know of any personal experiences of Central Clinic, so unless I do find one of my friends has been there I won't comment.

nytraveler

Have only needed an MD in europe once - and the hotel gave me the name of a private MD who spoke perfect English and was able to see me that evening (I had developed bronchitis from some germy person on the plane).

He was charming, supportive, told me which pharmacy would be open and even called me the next day to see how I was feeling. The whole cost was only about $70 (imagine versus an internist in Manhattan for $300+ without insurance).

But for a hospital I would call the embassy and ask for the best one in town. If the problem is that bad why take any chances?