Getting ill in Italy seems to be a pain. On the way back from Milan I started to feel worse and worse and by the time we got home I felt awful. So bad that I agreed not to go to work on Monday. Now for those who know me well, this is a rare occurrence as I am a real martyr when I am sick. To be honest I staying in bed most of the day feeling awful. I did have to get up to go to the doctor though. Although I knew I just had a terrible cold/flu thing I needed a doctors note FROM DAY ONE!!!!! So off I went, with cold sweats on a bus journey across town, only to find that the doctor doesn't open on a Monday. This was not a good start. I still felt awful on Tuesday so another day was had in bed and another trip to the Docs. This time he was there. And he spoke English. I've dreaded having to explain pain and illness in Italian so it was a real relief. He asked what was the matter and then wrote me a sick note. He then proceeded to ask if I'd teach his daughter English!!
I had to decide early in the day if I was in on Wednesday and still felt bad so opted for a Wednesday absence as well. That night my boss rang to check I was OK and to check that I had filled in the sick note properly. Well my sick note was just a letter from the doctor. Apparently not the right thing!! I had to call the Doctor at 9pm to ask for an official letter. How embarrassing - though technically his mistake not mine.
Wednesday morning saw me once again go out into town to meet the Doctor, get the official sick note and then fill it in. I then had to take it to INPS - the Social security office in order that I would get paid. Oh and then get the top copy to school on the same day.
In short, I had to traipse around town on all three days that I was off feeling terrible, rather than stay in bed, otherwise I wouldn't get paid. Maybe the NHS isn't so bad after all. I guess if you grew up here and have a family doctor and family who can run you around and drop things off it is sensible but for people like me it is a nightmare. I'll certainly think twice before being ill again!!
To put the icing on the cake, Simon got back from Milan with conjunctivitis, and since he doesn't yet have a doctor he had to go to casualty!! We are a right pair.
Good news though, my cold is almost gone and Simon's eyes are better - he does however appear to have a cold :-)