Policlinico di Bari defends ophthalmology emergency department amid wait time complaints

The ophthalmology emergency department at the Policlinico di Bari is facing scrutiny following reports of significant wait times. A family member of a 60-year-old patient reported waiting over four hours just for triage, noting that the facility appeared understaffed with only one doctor and one nurse on duty during a period of high demand.

In response, the hospital's health director, Danny Sivo, stated that the facility managed a record 372 total admissions across general and ophthalmology emergency services in a single day. Regarding the specific ophthalmology department, Sivo noted 64 accesses, of which only one was classified as a low-priority 'green code,' meaning no immediate emergencies were present.

Sivo explained that the surge is driven by a combination of regional patients and a high influx of tourists, with 15% of accesses coming from abroad. He emphasized that the hospital operates in synergy with other specialist units and that wait times are determined by triage priority and clinical complexity rather than just the number of staff physically present in the emergency area.