Woman with Brain Tumour Waits Years for MRI Scan in Italy
Listen to the story
A woman in Puglia, Italy, has a tumour in her brain. She needs a special scan called an MRI. But doctors gave her an appointment for March 2028. That is more than a year away.
A politician from Puglia named Cera spoke about this problem. He is from a political party called the Lega. He said doctors in Puglia are afraid to write "urgent" on medical papers.
The woman is very scared. She said: "I am afraid of dying." She must wait a long time for her scan because of the hospital system.
Cera says this is a big problem in the health system in Puglia. He wants people to know about it. He is asking for help for the woman.
This story shows problems with waiting times in hospitals. Many people need fast help, but sometimes they must wait a long time for tests.
Vocabulary15 words
- tumour
- a bad growth in the body; can be dangerous
- MRI
- a machine that takes pictures inside the body
- Lega
- the name of a political party in Italy
- urgent
- needs help very fast; very important now
- appointment
- a planned time to see a doctor
- politician
- a person who works in government
- health system
- all the hospitals and doctors in a country
- waiting times
- how long people wait for help
- scan
- a picture of the inside of the body
- brain
- the organ inside your head that controls your body
- hospital
- a place where sick people get help
- problem
- something that is wrong
- scared
- feeling afraid
- Puglia
- a region in south Italy
- medical papers
- documents doctors write about health
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A brain tumour 2. March 2028 3. A politician named Cera
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A woman in Puglia, Italy, has a _____ in her brain.
She needs a special scan called an _____.
But doctors gave her an appointment for _____ 2028.
A politician from Puglia named _____ spoke about this problem.
He is from a political party called the _____.
He said doctors in Puglia are afraid to write "_____" on medical papers.
The woman is very scared. She said: "I am afraid of _____."
She must wait a long time because of the hospital _____.
Cera says this is a big problem in the health system in _____.
This story shows problems with _____ in hospitals.
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