<i>The no-English in Italian hospital BS is just that</i>

That is an over-extended generalization, as I experienced it. And to extend my experience in a 30 year period to another Latin country, the personnel in the emergency room in Strasbourg, the hospital in Coulommiers, and more recently the hospital and other medical services in the Dordogne and southern Limousin spoke no English with the exception of one orthopedic doctor and a part-time visiting nurse.

Well, if you want a real hospital nightmare in Venice, visit the hospital library, and look at the display of vintage surgical instruments and documents explaining how to use them.

“Select appropriate saw, cut bone.”

The library has a most beautiful decorated ceiling.

Il eut peut-être été sage voire judicieux de choisir la langue de Voltaire comme facilité de communication avec le personnel vénitien.

Pariswat, I put my trust in the language of Shakespear. Voltaire Schmoltair!

Can't blame you thin !

But I think Italian aristocracy fancied learning french instead of English.
A choice that reflects snobism instead of pragmatism.
Ah. Be able to make wrong choice for the beauty of it.

So, French is the lingua franca?

This is All I’m going to say and cannot believe how rude many people are in their replies. Thank you to the people who were sympathetic.

First of all, I’m not a “troll” and did not make this up! It’s not BS as some have crudely insinuated. And I’m not “cutting and pasting” all over the Internet. I read someone else’s experience at the same hospital and and how similar it was which prompted me to write this. I sure would have liked to have known this ahead of time! I was not trying to say all hospitals in Italy are bad but that I did not have a good experience at all. And don’t criticize my husband. He did his best trying to take care of me and DID try to find someone to translate to no avail. We were trying to get through this the best we could. Even the Rescue nurse could not believe their attitude and said she had never been treated like she was there. My husband took the taxis everyday sometimes being let off at random stops not knowing where he was and when he asked for help...nothing.

Yes the surgeons did a good job thank goodness because I didn’t know what they were doing to me. And there was one nurse who was kind but overall I was totally at their mercy.

Many of you are obviously world travelers and more experienced than we were. I had never had anything like this happen while traveling and had not used travel insurance but was glad I had it. And my hospital stay was not FREE like some said. The insurance company paid everything at the hospital and were in communication with us though not always promptly. We literally called them (with the guide) from the ER to get instructions. The company was Travel Safe. I’m not going to mention the tour company as they stayed with me from the time it happened at 9am until late that night but had to continue with the group. They checked in with us every day and made sure all the insurance was taken care of. Yes, the boat captain definitely could have done more....at least calling for an ambulance or taking us closer to the boat for the hospital.

I’m sure to everyone it just seemed like I was complaining but it truly was a horrible experience and going forward when we went to France this summer I made sure I had insurance that covered everything and was now aware what to expect. I appreciate the “kind” sometimes sarcastic suggestions and information. Maybe it will help someone else know what to expect which was all I was doing.

This has been unbelievable!

Enough said!

I'm sure that it was a terrible experience, but do you realize your story is changing?

You didn't say in your first post that someone from the tour company stayed with you all day and checked with you every day. Did you not tell them you wanted a translator?

You also mentioned--again, not in your first post, but later--that one doctor spoke English. Did you not tell him you wanted a translator?

I also wonder if you have ever been in any hospital anywhere other than this one. Hospitals are unpleasant. Well, except for that Japanese one massimop was in--I'm booking myself in there as soon as I can figure out how.

Anyway, I actually came to say that consulates and embassies have junior staff to deal with this kind of thing. It amazes me that not only did you and your husband not think of this for 3 weeks, but that no one around you did, either.

I think there's a lot of good information in this thread, one bit being, do call your nearest embassy or consulate in an emergency.

<that someone from the tour company stayed with you all day and checked with you every day. >
Sorry, meant to say, the person from the tour company stayed with you all day the first day, and then someone, same or different person, checked in with you daily. I know they weren't there with you for 3 weeks.

We asked for translators numerous times but to no avail. Sorry but you weren’t there and when you’re going through a situation like this you’re not always thinking of everything. No the doctor didn’t offer to get a translator and if I’d had one they couldn’t be there 24/7. And yes I’ve been in hospitals many times. Please don’t be so condescending. I’m really tired of explaining myself.

I appreciate the people who have been kind. Let’s just drop it!

Folks, give it a rest, would you?

It is extremely frightening to be forced into a serious hospital stay in a foreign country. I have had it happen twice, and it is just surreal. In both my cases I didn't face needing surgery, and I would have been 3 times as frightened, I'm sure.

It is grim enough dealing with emergency care anywhere, but if you are used to the military-like routines of American suburban hospitals, and their modern infrastructure, an Italian hospital can come as quite a shock. (I may have been more easy with it having lived in NYC and had Bellevue as one of the hospitals I used).

The OP has told a very useful tale about the need for travel insurance (which provides translators) and having a window into the Italian system should the need arise.

I hope none of you ever need a hospital if you are traveling in Italy but if it happens to anybody, they will be better prepared for having read this thread, thanks to the OP, not the people blowing hot air and posting ugly thoughts for no useful purpose. What is it about Fodorites that makes them need to believe Europe has no problems and American tourists are all people they hate?

Yeah, if you want it to drop, you probably shouldn't add more stuff that makes it even more unbelievable. what do you mean, the taxis kept dropping your husband off randomly? If it was the vaporettos, they operate like buses. And then there are maps. Apps. A visitor center. If it's the actual taxis, those go where the passenger tells them.

I also don't really understand why you are unwilling to provide the tour company's name. Either they screwed the pooch royally or they were stalwart heroes. Either way, we'd want to know. I can't believe they stayed in contact with you for 3 WEEKS and never once gave you the embassy contact information or gave you contact info for independent translators. Which certainly must exist in Venice. Where did your husband stay? Because I also can't believe he stayed in a hotel that MUST have had English speakers on staff and received no assistance there either.

But here's the biggie: why do you feel a 24/7 translator would be so important.? You wouldn't be any less at the doctor's mercy at an American hospital. It's not like you can tell a surgeon "I don't think that'll work, you need to operate this way."

It has been an educational thread, though. And I'm glad that you learned the importance of trip insurance!

If the purpose of this thread is to inform travelers, the facts are important. The OP has gone from saying there was never a translator to saying there wasn’t one 24/7. That’s a big difference.

Honestly, I think the awfulness of the experience—and I don’t doubt it was awful—is causing her to find fault where there was none. Sometimes our emotional memories overshadow everything else.

Yup. Exactly. I can believe it was awful. but if the point of a post is to help other travelers, then facts- or at least honesty- are important. A one post wonder that refuses to divulge pertinent information or changes facts is not helping herself.

Over the last few years, the Osperdale has seen a lot of building work, only visible from the lagoon. Helipad etc. So maybe it is not so primative as it might seen when entering from Campo SS G&P.

Post of marvellous mouse at 2 52 is spot in.

Or the taxi drivers in Venice like to play with their clients ... where do you want to go ? Hem. Ok. I'll drop you elsewhere for fun today. Tomorrow I'll drop you further awa.

These things make it impossible to feel sorry for OP.

Actually she is telling us but by bit that the hospital did a great job that the doctor spoke English that the tour company stayed the whole day with her that the tour company called and sorted the problems with the insurance company and that she had a translator.

Seems translator should have stayed in her bed and should have brought Diet Coke cans every day.

Sorry but I have no sympathy for somebody who just complains wheneverybody did everything they had to.
And more. And are not thanked for it.

That is why I liked to be a volunteer fir pediatric deparyment. Kids are just happy to see you and don't complain. Until they die of their cancer. OP belongs to that category of people who cannot cope with difficulties and don't recognise what is being done for them.

The title of that thread should be ´ thank god i got such good care in Venice hospital despite being a mean patient and having a clueless husband ´.

Yes I know I am a bad guy. You have no idea. No empathy

Yet I show up at funerals where the white coffin is less than à Meter long and painted with flowers. And some nurses and doctors show up too.

I knew a paediatrician. He said that you see a lot of sadness. However, you often get a pathetic limp little scrap coming in and within a few days, they will be dashing about and terrorising the ward. Children recover quickly

Why would the OP not name the tour company? Normal posters have no problem identifying their tour company when relaying good or bad experiences. I can think of one reason not to name them.

Not being able to find a translator in 3 weeks is the real plot hole in the OP's tale. Dropped into the middle of Mongolia, I would wager anyone could find a good English speaker within a day, likely less than a day. In Venice it's basically a scientific fact you're never more than 50 meters away from an English speaker (probably 10 meters, but I'm allowing for the canals).

And now we hear of spiteful taxi drivers.

The story raises red flags because it doesn't line up to anyone else's experience in Europe, Italy, or Venice.

So, a man visits his wife in hospital every day for three weeks and in all that time, he doesn’t work out which vaporetto to take or where to get off.

Wherever you were in the world, surely you’d know which Tube, Metro, subway line or bus route to take and where to get off.
Also, where in the world do taxis not drop you off at the destination you tell them when you get in?

If taxis had taken him to the correct destination ronce or twice, wouldn’t he tell the driver if he was taking him to the wrong place?
Water taxis cost a small fortune. Did he meekly pay his fare and get out not knowing where he was?

The saga is getting increasingly far fetched

>>Folks, give it a rest, would you?<<
>>Let’s just drop it!<<

Good luck with that.