True story: A successful American television producer comes to Rome for the funeral of Pope John Paul II, eats some bad fast food, gets horribly ill, vomits and faints. His colleagues rush him to the nearest hospital, Santo Spirito, where they just take his blood every morning and do nothing else. After three days, he feels better and decides to leave, stopping on the way out to pay or at least provide his insurance. They just laugh and wave him off.
Another true story: A successful American business man working in Rome has chest pains, is afraid it’s his heart. He remembers an ad he saw for an American Hospital where English is spoken. He calls a taxi and tells the driver to get him there. The taxista drives 45 minutes to a remote area at the edge of the city, then drops him off, charging 50 Euros. He checks in – not a single soul at the ‘American Hospital’ speaks English. One expat’s blood got ‘lost’ at Rome’s largest university hospital following her surgery. I could go on and on. So what do you do? I mean, people get sick here all the time and they don’t all die. What happens if you or your child gets sick in the middle of the night on a Sunday in August?
In fact, Rome is full of very good medical facilities and the vast majority are absolutely free. Its just that most of them were built in the 19th century (or centuries before) and haven’t been updated much since (what can you expect when they don’t charge anything?). Most hospitals have a prono soccorso (emergency room) open 24 hours – however English is not likely to be spoken. If you are in the historic center, Fate Bene Fratelli, an ancient hospital on the Tiber’s only island, is the closest. The Nuovo Regina Margherita Hospital in Trastevere has a 24-hour tourist medical service for minor afflictions – but note this does not mean anybody there speaks English.
If you can wait, it’s worth visiting an English-speaking private doctor. There are several international doctors practicing in Rome, and you might even be able to find one of your own nationality – contact your country’s embassy for a list of the doctors they refer to. The HYPERLINK "http://www.aventinomedicalgroup.com/" Aventino Medical Group across from FAO has English-speaking doctors in general medicine and a range of specializations, although it can be difficult to get an appointment at this busy practice. Here as everywhere, private doctors and health facilities charge a bundle. Before coming, its a good idea to purchase international health insurance; HYPERLINK "http://www.clements.com/" Clements International is one such provider. International coverage costs relatively little and is worth its weight in gold if you fall ill.
The good news (finally!) is that Rome has an excellent children’s hospital, Bambino Gesù on the Gianicolo hill, which despite being free and public, delivers the very best in care, including at the ER. And some doctors here even speak English! If that knowledge doesn’t calm you, you can rest assured knowing that all Roman hospitals have full bars where you can buy alcoholic drinks – a caffé corretto never hurts when you’re waiting for your child, who has just taken a nosedive onto a marble floor, to be seen by a doctor – trust me.
Free public hospital with medical clinic for tourists (free):
Ospedale Nuovo Regina Margherita, Via Emilio Morosini, 30 (Trastevere) Tel: 06 58441
Tram #8 from Largo Argentina.
Major hospital with Emergency Room (Pronto Soccorso) (free):
Ospedale Fate Bene Fratelli, Piazza Fatebenefratelli 2 (Tiberina Island) Tel: 06 68371
Bus #23, 280, H, get off at Isola Tiberina.
Children’s hospital with Emergency Room (free):
Bambino Gesù, Piazza S.Onofrio, 4 (Gianicolo) Tel: 06 68591.
Bus #870 from via Paola (Ponte Vittorio).
Private group of English-speaking doctors (€100-150 per visit):
Aventino Medical Group, Via della Fonte di Fauno 22 (Aventino, near FAO) Tel: 06 578 0738.
Bus #3, 60, 75, get off at FAO.
Or contact your country’s embassy.