Altroconsumo, waiting lists are still too long

(ANSA) – MILAN, APRIL 29 – The situation of waiting lists in the National Health Service shows no signs of improvement: too long times, distant hospital facilities, difficulties with single booking centers and blocked booking agendas. This is the photograph that emerges from a survey conducted by Altroconsumo: out of over 1,100 citizens interviewed, 950 had difficulty booking a visit or exam over the last year. Many are forced to turn to private individuals with high costs or to give up treatment. For 2/3 of those interviewed, the waits are too long, often beyond the emergencies indicated on the prescription, but for many the hospital facilities are also too far away. Most of the problems were recorded during specialist visits (for 2/3 of the reports received): in particular, the most cited visits were ophthalmology (around 180 reports) and dermatology (around 100, mostly concerning mole control). ). Among the most reported tests are ultrasounds, especially of the abdomen, thyroid, breast and shoulder (around 150), magnetic resonance imaging, CT scans (around 100) and gastroscopies (around 25). The problem of excessive expectations concerns the vast majority of interviewees; it is impossible for many to have visits and tests within the times suggested by the doctor, even when there is an emergency indicated on the prescription (117). The situation does not improve on the hospitalization front. Of the 1,100 respondents, about 300 said they had been placed on a waiting list for hospitalization in the past two years. Just over half of the citizens were hospitalized on schedule; around 100 however were not so lucky and around 50 are still waiting to find out when they will be called. Among the reasons for the delays encountered: the lack of doctors, beds and the absence of an agenda for the next few months. (HANDLE).