We receive and publish:
On 18/05/2021 at 4.40 pm I accompany R. to the emergency room in Savigliano for visual difficulties, eye pain and migraine. This symptomatology has been present for several days. She was treated with painkillers prescribed by her GP with partial benefit. The symptoms described above make it difficult to walk, to see, to be able to follow a speech, to be in places with strong lights and directed to the face.
At the pre-triage I explain the reason for the access and that the sending was recommended by the doctors of the IRCCS of Candiolo from whom R. is followed for a diagnostic-therapeutic path. I also deliver all the medical documentation to the nurse for pre-triage. According to the Covid legislation, I am not allowed access to the emergency room even if R. is clearly in difficulty in communicating his health history and is in a fragile condition.
Access to the emergency room followed the fast track path (this method provides for direct sending to the specialist doctor when there is a problem related to a specific organ) and at 18.20 R. performs eye consultation without being visited by the doctor on duty of the Emergency room.
From outside the emergency room, I insist with the pre-triage nurse and by telephone on the number given to me to be able to speak to the doctor. Around 6.30 pm the RI doctor contacts me who, having received the health information (already communicated two hours before to the pre-triage nurse), examines the documentation that R. has always had with him (but no health worker has seen ) and requires blood tests, CT scans and prescribes painkillers. The CT scan is performed around 8.00 pm and the result is expected until almost 11.00 pm.
In the meantime, the doctor changes. Now it is doctor G’s turn. The communication of the outcome took place in a very hasty way and with a grumpy tone: “Eh mister … what do you want me to tell you: in his head he has the same thing as in his leg”. He prescribes another painkiller and discharges him without contacting me (I have always waited outside since 4.40 pm) even if his difficulty in walking and seeing is evident.
A few minutes before he was discharged, I phoned the emergency room to find out something and the nurse informed me of R’s discharge. which I hoped it would not fall so as not to aggravate a rather complex situation.
This has been our experience. I tried to leave out the emotions of those hours. I deeply thank Dr. RI for her tremendous professionalism and great humanity. R. remembered her for her competence and for her sweet and reassuring tone of voice.
I don’t have much to say to Dr. G. except that medical diagnoses are never good news, but the communication methods make a lot of difference in the experience and awareness of those who receive them … they help to have a dignity of life.
Letter signed
Editorial board
SAVIGLIANO